• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.261-276
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• 2016

This study was to investigate the effects of peer mentoring on students' mathematical characters and mathematics achievements in mathematics class. The participants were twenty four 6th grade elementary students at the S school in Sungbuk-Gu, Seoul, Korea. They were divided into 4 groups according to the combination of groups. The researchers analyzed the experimental group and the control group with covariances on the sub-factors of the mathematical characters such as respect, caring, sharing, and openness. However, there were no statistically significant changes. However, with the help of the two analyses on the mathematical logs and the worksheets which had been carried out in advance by the quantitative and qualitative research methods, the researchers investigated how the peer mentoring-applied instructions would change the mathematical characters for each sub-factor in detail. In conclusion, the peer mentoring-applied instructions makes a positive contribution to the students' mathematical character and mathematical academic achievements. We suggest that peer mentoring in mathematics lessons should be adopted in various mathematical ability levels of students.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between teacher's role and interaction patterns in mathematics classrooms. Teacher's role was divided into usual practices with students, usual practices with content and usual practices with students and contents, and interaction patterns were classified into report, inquiry and discussion. The subjects in this study were teachers and students in three fourth- grade classes in T elementary school located in Seoul. After the classes of every math teacher were observed, three teachers who played distinctively unique roles were selected in accordance with the results of the first-semester autonomous supervision, of open class for parents and of the instructional observation. Thus, there was a close relationship between the teacher roles and interaction patterns. And it's concluded that students are able to have a more discussion on each other's ideas in the student-centered classroom, and that teachers should perform active roles in that process. Given the findings of the study, there are some suggestions: First, the teachers appeared to fulfill consistent roles when their videotaped classes, study aids and performance assessment materials were analyzed, and they should play more active roles in mathematics class. Second, they should try to create the kinds of climate that encourages students to come up with ideas in an active manner. Third, earlier studies had focused on student-teacher interaction patterns, but this study found that the roles of the teachers depended on interaction with not only students but study aids and performance assessment materials, and that the interaction patterns hinged on their roles as well. Therefore more profound research efforts should be directed into this issue.

• School Mathematics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.241-257
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• 2003

The goal of mathematics education in the 7-th national curriculum is focused on maximizing learning effectiveness through teaching mathematics, considering learning contents and levels appropriate to various levels of students' abilities. Thus, reduction of contents, learner-centered way of teaching, and multi-step differentiated learning are centered around the curriculum. However, in reality one of the most difficult problems mentioned by many inservice teachers is that students are not interested in school mathematics because some of them tended to learn mathematics in advance in private institutes and others felt difficult from school mathematics. Thus, alternative solutions are strongly required. When students are more interested in mathematics classes and instructional materials, as a more effective way of teaching, are appropriately used, problems mentioned above are expected to be solved. In order to solve problems, additionally, this study investigated the amount of time assigned to each area of mathematics textbooks from level 1-A to level 6-B, which are currently used in elementary school. This study also examined inservice teachers' views about how instructional materials should be used. This will be helpful on using and developing instructional materials, and it will lead to more exciting classes of mathematics. However, these teaching materials need to be carefully used regarding their relationships with pedagogical transfer, metacognitive movement, and localization.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.163-183
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to provide useful information for teachers by analyzing mathematical communication emphasized through 'exploratory activity' and 'story corner' in elementary textbooks based on the revised curriculum. Two classrooms from the first grade and second grade respectively were observed and videotaped. Mathematical communication of each classroom was analyzed in terms of questioning, explaining, and the sources of mathematical ideas. The results showed that only one classroom focused on students' thinking processes and explored their ideas, whereas the other classrooms focused mainly on finding answer. Particularly, this tendency often appeared when implementing 'story corner' than 'exploratory activity'. The reason for this was inferred that teachers were not familiar with teaching mathematics in stories and that teachers' manual did not include concrete questions and students' expected responses. This paper included implications on how to promote mathematical communication specifically in lower grades in elementary school.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.357-377
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to identify whether math class with clip-type contents has a significant impacts on the academic achievement and attitude of students. To answer the questions, two classes of 4th graders at Sinlim Elementary School in Gwanak-gu, Seoul were selected as subjects; they were divided into experimental group and comparative group. They were confirmed as a homogeneous group at the significance level of 0.05 during a pre-test. The findings are as follows. First, math class with clip-type contents had positive influence on the academic achievement. Second, math class with clip-type contents had positive influence on the attitude towards learning. Furthermore, proper clip-type contents for class boost their understanding and enhance their mathematical thinking with multiple views. It led to their self-confidence in learning math, developing a positive attitude towards math. The benefits of the present research can be summarized as follows. First, the math class with clip-type contents benefited both teachers and students. For teachers, it helped them boost the quality of their teaching. For students, it helped them understand the class better, improving their academic achievement. Second, the diverse, interesting contents had a positive impact on the following of the students: self-concept of math; attitude towards math; learning habits.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.435-455
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• 2015

This study is aimed at analyzing the level change and features of mathematical communication in elementary students' expository writing. 20 students of 5th graders of elementary school in Seoul were given expository writing activity for 14 lessons and their worksheets was analyzed through four categories; the accuracy of the mathematical language, logicality of process and results, specificity of content, achieving the reader-oriented. This study reached the following results. First, The level of expository writing about concepts and principles was gradually improved. But the level of expository writing about problem solving process is not same. Middle class level was lower than early class, and showed a high variation in end class again. Second, features of mathematical communication in expository writing were solidity of knowledge through a mathematical language, elaboration of logic based on the writing, value of the thinking process to reach a result, the clarification of the content to deliver himself and the reader. Therefore, this study has obtained the conclusion that expository writing is worth keeping the students' thinking process and can improve the mathematical communication skills.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.265-276
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• 2014

In this study, we aim to search the utilization plan of primary 3-4 mathematics textbooks for 'Flipped Classroom' practice. In the flipped classroom, students are required to manipulate more rigorous concepts, deal with realistic problems and various activities, and discussions. Researcher analyzed the new mathematics textbooks of primary 3-4 grade that is applied 2014. The criteria of analysis was made of the instructional model for 'Flipped Classroom' that was set up by previous researcher. To practice the flipped classroom, teachers need to design their classes carefully for using selectively many materials of the textbooks to make students participate discussion in the classroom actively and to consider their interests and levels.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.267-286
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• 2017

This study analyzed the processes of lesson plan, implementation, and reflection by a professional learning community with five teachers who were teaching second grade students in the same elementary school. The results of the study showed that the learning community helped the teachers prepare for a lesson effectively, enhance their teaching practices, and reflect on their teaching methods. However, the teachers had difficulties in re-designing and implementing the collaborative lesson plan in their classrooms and had a tendency to talk about their feelings about lessons rather than meaningful comments for subsequent lessons. The successes and difficulties revealed through this study are expected to provide us with directions of learning communities for improving teachers' professional development.

• School Mathematics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.201-219
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to analyse the belief about mathematics teaching of elementary preservice teachers and mathematics teachers. This study involved 100 respondents from the preservice teachers and 114 respondents from the mathematics teachers. The instruments used in this study consist 15 items of mathematical knowledges and 19 items of mathematical activities. The finding showed that preservice teachers emphasized the conceptual knowledge, whereas mathematics teachers emphasized the procedural knowledge in the mathematical knowledges. And preservice teachers emphasized the knowledge representation, knowledge generation, knowledge deliberation, knowledge communication, whereas mathematics teachers emphasized the use of knowledge(syntax) in the mathematical activities. Finally, even though two groups showed the significant difference in some items, preservice teachers and mathematics teachers emphasized the various mathematical knowledges and mathematical activities.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2016

This cross-national study examines the similarities and differences between Korean and U.S. pre-service teachers' views on equitable mathematics teaching. Pre-service teachers enrolled in mathematics education courses at the two sites (Korea, n=51; U.S., n=33) were administered a survey consisting of the following: (a) items about pre-service teachers' views on equity relative to mathematical ability, classroom policies and practices, and access to learning opportunities, (b) items about pre-service teachers' agreement in their views on recommended practices, and (c) items about participants' past learning experiences in an equitable learning environment as students. Similarities were found between the sites regarding the following: (a) advocating for equitable mathematics teaching, and (b) conceptualizing equitable teaching as a way to support the learning of less capable students. Differences were found with regard to nurturing growth mindsets in mathematics; positioning toward equal opportunities and outcomes in learning; and relating to grouping as collaborative learning strategies.