• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.545-561
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to analysis how the elements of character are reflected in the 3rd and 4th grade elementary mathematics textbooks based on the 2009 revised curriculum. This study focused on the elements of character in the 3rd and 4th grade mathematics textbooks. The researchers analyzed the elements of character in the students' mathematics textbooks and teacher's guide books. In particular, they analyzed how those elements of character are reflected in those books. Findings of this study are as follows. First of all, the elements of character were founded in the most of units on the 3rd and 4th grade mathematics textbooks, but they were biased to the specific elements of character. Second, the resources using related with character vary in the textbooks. As methods of character education, connections of elements of character with mathematical concepts, broader view of the world, or problem solving are appeared. From the results of the research, we suggest the followings. We need to set the teacher's roles in character education. Mathematics textbooks should include various elements of character for effective character education. In addition to development of quality materials for character education in mathematics education, teacher education programs should include character education in mathematics education.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.207-225
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• 2017

With a significant role of textbooks in shaping students' opportunities to learn, textbook analysis is essential to reveal these opportunities to learn the concept of area and volume. This research aims to show how the Korean textbooks pace students' learning of area and volume across grades by scrutinizing the textbooks with students' developmental sequences, called learning trajectories. Tasks about area and volume in all Korean elementary textbooks (grade 1 to 6) are coded with the specific developmental stages suggested in learning trajectories. As a result, we find considerable misalignment between the textbooks and the learning trajectories. The textbooks provide opportunities to experience developmental progressions of area and volume later than ages suggested in the learning trajectories. In addition, learning opportunities are significantly concentrated in grade 5 for area and grade 6 for volume with heavy emphases on applying formulas of area or volume. The findings from this research provides important implications concerning design of textbooks as well as improving students' opportunities in the mathematics classrooms.

• School Mathematics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2002

In recent elementary school mathematics a word 'stipulation' newly appears. The word is used instead of definition. However, there seems to be some differences between definition and stipulation. So, in this paper we investigate those differences through the concept 'function of definition'. In school mathematics textbooks there are definitions which carry out special functions In mathematical contexts or situations. We can say that we understand those definitions, only if we also understand the functions of definitions in those contexts or situations. Functions of definition are classified as, stipulation-function, discrimination-function, analysis-function, demonstration-function, improvement-function. With these analyses we made a frame for investigating the characteristics of the definitions in recent elementary school mathematics textbooks. As a result of analysing functions of definition we found that generally speaking, stipulation-function is excessively emphasized and the other functions of definition are not explained adequately in school mathematics textbooks. So it is required that the textbook authors should be careful not to miss an opportunity for the functional understanding and the mathematics teachers should be aware of the functions of definitions. Finally, we comment that textbook author, teacher, and researcher should be careful in using the word 'stipulation' instead of definition, because, although there are various functions of definitions, students might ream only stipulation-function.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.575-595
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• 2006

In this paper, we investigated the effects of mathematics classes using play-action programs in the course of mathematics education of future elementary school teachers. This study was conducted with 43 junior university students who selected 'Play Mathematics' in 2006. All the participants in this course was divided 11 groups. Play-action mathematics programs was consisted of 12 themes. For example, there was tangram, somacube, hexamino, tessellation, geoboard etc. In the beginning of lessons, we investigated theses themes itself through plays, puzzles, games, and computer programs. And next time, we investigated the relationships between these themes and elementary mathematic textbooks(i.e. mathematical contents). In 14th and 15th lessons, all the groups took a project presentation lessons that included all things about play mathematics in all group categories. And they developed two themes of play mathematics in accordance with grades, contents, levels as course tasks. Through this study, three educational effects induced. First, future elementary school teachers have a deep understanding about play-action mathematics. They are interested in these play themes, and take part in these play mathematics programs of their own accord. And they realize that these play themes are related to elementary mathematics. Second, future elementary school teachers' attitude and mind about mathematical are improved after this course. Third, future elementary school teachers comprehend various instruction methods relating to play mathematics. Therefore, we suggest that future elementary school teachers need to have many opportunity to experience and develop a mathematics classes using play mathematics.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.361-378
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• 2011

Since textbooks are developed according to the curriculum, it might be said that the terms registered in curriculum can serve as guidelines for terms used in textbooks. But it really is not. In this study, so that terms registered in curriculum can serve as guidelines for terms used in textbooks, inconsistencies between them would be found out and improved. To this end, suitability of selecting and using terms are discussed, focusing on terms registered in curriculum and terms used in textbooks. In fact, there are significant differences between the terms registered in curriculum and the terms in textbooks, because there is not any criteria in selecting and using terms. In this study the five criteria with respect to registering terms in curriculum are proposed. Everyday language should not be registered. Naturalized terms should not be registered. Terms used in only elementary mathematics, but are already well-established should be registered. Same term used in diverse context should be registered only once. Terms which can be used without definition should be designated. Three criteria in regard to using terms in textbooks are proposed. Terms registered in curriculum must be used. Same term used in diverse context should be redefined in every context. Terms that are not certified and are not absolutely necessary must not be used.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.499-519
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• 2016

This study analyzed the statistics contents in elementary mathematics textbooks in terms of an information-processing capacity, which is one of the math competencies emphasized by the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum. The findings of this study showed that the activities of 'summarizing and analyzing data or information' far outnumbered 'collecting data or information', 'interpreting and utilizing information', and 'using technological instruments or manipulative materials'. Lessons of collecting data or information were mostly present in the textbooks of lower grade-levels, where the range of data collection was narrow, and lacked adequate exploration of data collecting methods. Some lessons on utilizing information were not based on the interpretation of data, and using technological instruments or manipulative materials was merely introduced in teachers' manual and hardly introduced in the actual textbooks. Based on these findings, this study sought to suggest implications regarding the development of statistics contents in elementary mathematics textbooks in a manner to improve students' information processing capabilities.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.459-475
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• 2022

The equal sign and equivalence are the most basic and core concepts in elementary mathematics, but there has been lack of research on how to teach these concepts with textbooks. Given this, this study analyzed elementary mathematics textbooks in terms of three instructional elements (i.e., emphasizing the meaning of the equal sign as a relational symbol, dealing with an equation as an object for reasoning, and using an equation with a missing value). In particular, this study analyzed 10 different mathematics textbook series that are newly used in 2022 and examined the overall trends and characteristics for teaching the equal sign and equivalence. The results of this study showed that the activities emphasizing the meaning of the equal sign as a relational symbol were most noticeable but the activities dealing with an equation as an object for reasoning or using an equation with a missing value were relatively rare. Based on the results of the analysis, this study provides textbook writers with implications on what to further consider in covering the equal sign and equivalence.

• School Mathematics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.45-68
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• 2006

Singaporean students have demonstrated their superior mathematical achievement and positive mathematical dispositions. Against this background, this study compared Korean elementary mathematics textbooks with Singaporean counterparts focusing on the geometry and measurement strand. The analysis was conducted in many aspects, including an overall unit structure, the contents to be covered in each grade, and the methods of introducing essential learning themes. The textbooks were also compared and contrasted with regard to the main characteristics of constructing mathematical contents. Whereas Korean textbooks used block teaming, Singaporean textbooks used repeated teaming. The latter also employed the activity of classifying multiple figures as the main method of introducing concepts. Whereas Korean textbooks consist of typical examples of figures, Singaporean counterparts include various examples consistent with the principle of mathematical variability.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.231-257
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• 2020

As the main mathematical concepts are presented and expressed in various ways through textbooks during the teaching and learning process, it is necessary to look at the representations used in elementary math textbooks to find effective guidance. This study analyzed sentences used in the definition of mathematical terms and unit assessments of current elementary mathematics textbooks according to word depth (Yngve, 1960) from a syntactic perspective. As a result of the analysis, it could be seen that the sentences in textbook were generally concise, the word depth was lower, and the sentence structure and form were different depending on the individual characteristics of each term. Also, the sentences in the lower grade textbooks were more easily constructed, and the sentences of the term definition were more complex than the sentences of the unit assessments. Efforts should be made to help learners learn mathematical concepts, such as clarifying sentences in textbooks, presenting visual materials together, and providing additional explanations to suit the level of individual learners.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.27-34
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• 1986

At present, Japanese textbooks of mathematics for elementary and secondary schools are thorized by the Ministry of Education. In former days, this system was also in effect for mentary schools until 1905 and for secondary schools until 1944. this article we discuss the start and the change of this system until 1905 and its influences the textbooks of mathematics. The main interest of the system was originally to prevent the textbooks from having the pressions which have the fear of breaking laws, disturbing the public morals or mistaking real facts. The interest changed to assure that the textbooks might comply with the ional standards of teaching syllabuses. And the standards such as the ones of the sizes of ers in the textbooks were made public one after another. The comments attached to the textbooks which applied for the authorization often pointed out use of unsuitable concrete numbers. The comments were often concerned with the difficulty words or sentenses for elementary schools and with the incorrectness of mathematical contents secondary schools. We conclude that the system encouraged the rapid modernization and regularization of Japanese tbooks during this period. We may note that there was a tendency not to adopt an extremely usual trial into the textbooks.