• The Mathematical Education
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

We have studied the issues of the current math war in America. Traditionalists and the reformers have been arguing about the curriculums, teaching methods, use of calculators, basic skills, and assessment methods in K-12 mathematics. They both have strengths and weaknesses depending on the situation have contributed for the development of mathematics education. Instead of choosing between traditionalists and the reformist sides, we suggest to adopt an eclectic view point i.e., rigor and creativity, memorization and understanding that may seem at odds with each other are quite compatible and mutually reinforcing. Also teacher's deep knowledge in mathematics is extremely important as his/her knowledge in pedagogy.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.263-279
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• 2010

Teachers' personal knowledge (PK) is an element in their pedagogic-practical knowledge. This study exposes the PK of primary school mathematics teachers regarding solid geometry through reflection. Students are exposed to solid geometry on various levels, from kindergarten age and above. Previous studies attested to the fact that students encounter difficulties-strong dislike and fear engendered by geometry. A good number of teachers have strong dislike to solid geometry, as well. Therefore, those engaged in teaching the subject must address the problem and try to overcome these difficulties. In this paper we have introduced the reflective process among teachers in primary school, including application of Van-Hiele's theory to solid geometry.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.157-185
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• 2013

This study was to investigate novice teachers' Specialized Content Knowledge for Teaching in High School Calculus Lessons. The lessons of two novice teachers in Kyunggi Do were observed from July, 2011 to Feb. 2012. All observed lessons were audeotaped and transcribed into word files. Their calculus lessons were analyzed into three kinds of knowledge consisting of SCKT. Their SCKT just copied the contents of the textbook and other additional SCKT were not found for teaching. Even though students asked a question that they did not understand, the teacher just repeated the previous contents that already he used. But this study included possible contents of SCKT within the areas these teachers covered so that teachers in school may use for teaching of Calculus. The novice teacher do not have sufficient experience, the program of the college of education and the contents of the teacher certificate-examination should include multi-dimensional approaches in SCKT to pre-service teachers in order to raise better specialized teachers in mathematics.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.181-195
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the understanding of basic knowledge of mathematics for $6^{th}$ grade students in elementary school by an essay test and provide instructional suggestions for teachers. A total of 132 students from 6 classes in 3 elementary schools were tested and analyzed in terms of the characteristics of correct answers and types of incorrect answers. The results showed that students had poor understanding of basic conceptual concepts and principles throughout six content areas of school mathematics curriculum, despite their good performance on mathematical skills. This study included implications to teaching and learning for each of the content areas.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.491-509
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyze some Korean elementary pre-service teachers' Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching(MKT). For this purpose, we selected the MKT items on number and operations which were adapted for Korean in-service teachers by Lee(2011). The survey consisting of those items was administered to 76 Korean elementary pre-service teachers at Teachers College, J University. The results are the following: First, the respondents, elementary pre-service teachers, showed that the preference for the MKT items was very affirmative, but the percentages of correct answers to the MKT items weren't generally high. Second, the preference for the instructional consultation by experienced teachers was very affirmative. Third, the percentages of correct answers to KCS, SCK, CCK and KCT were 70.13%, 55.71%, 43.87% and 29.27%, respectively. Fourth, the percentages of correct answers to type 5, 6, and 7 were more than 60%, but those of correct answers to type 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 were less than 60%. This means we need to strengthen type 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 in education of elementary mathematics subject at Teachers College of J University.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.173-188
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• 2014

The aim of the case study presented in this paper was to explore mathematics curriculum knowledge of a South Korean elementary teacher. An in-depth case study is applied to examine mathematics curriculum knowledge that influences teachers' instructional process including analysis of diverse artifacts such as lesson plan, observation and interviews. Findings of this study suggest that mathematics curriculum knowledge has direct relevance to teaching a lesson, designing a lesson and assessing students' work. In addition, this study identified that mathematics curriculum knowledge may be divided into two sub-categories: vertical mathematics curriculum knowledge and horizontal mathematics curriculum knowledge. The results of this case study help our understanding of South Korean elementary teachers' mathematics curriculum knowledge, which has a deep impact on their teaching practice. Moreover, this cross-national research offers implications for researchers, policymakers, and teachers in U.S. as well as those in South Korea.

• School Mathematics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.615-632
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• 2011

The purpose of the study was to investigate the mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) of pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers on the concept of vector. 80 pre-service and 124 in-service mathematics teachers were asked to perform three questions based on MKT's subdomain. The results show that pre-service teachers have stronger common content knowledge(CCK). On the other hand, in-service teachers have stronger specialized content knowledge(SCK), knowledge of content and teaching(KCT) compared to those of pre-service teachers. The paper proposes CCK, SCK and KCT about the concept of vector and discusses the relationships between subdomains of MKT.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.153-166
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• 2017

164 preservice elementary teachers' decision and enactment of their knowledge of fraction multiplication were examined in a context where they were asked to write a story problem for a multiplication problem with two proper fractions. Participants were selected from an entry level course and an exit level course of their teacher preparation program to reveal any differences between the groups as well as any recognizable patterns within each group and overall. Patterns and tendencies in writing story problems were identified and analyzed. Implications of the findings for teaching and teacher education are discussed.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2011

Metaphor is the main representations of teachers' practical knowledge, which can help students to understand mathematics better. Through the recording and quantitative analysis of video cases of expert teachers in mathematics classroom, there are some results after analysis: 1) Teachers use many metaphors in the classroom and most of that are structural-ontological metaphors, which takes a certain period of time. 2) Teachers use the metaphors mainly in the teaching process of introduce and explore by the form of question-answer. 3) During the process of concept teaching, the metaphors from the real-world examples can promote the students have more motivation to study. During the process of procedure teaching, the metaphors from similar materials can promote the students to understand the operational skill better.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2002

From the beginning of the 20th century, calculus is gradually offered to high school students in many countries. However, in Chinese high school, the instruction on calculus is nearly an untouched field. Many people don't believe that high school students can study calculus well. They think calculus knowledge in students' brains is likely to become the “half-cooked food”, and this can produce a bad effect on the study of formal calculus at university. The authors consider that the emphasis of calculus in high school should be the intuitive understanding of fundamental calculus concepts, and it is also the basis of the understanding of formal concepts. Traditional mathematics course with chalk can't meet the needs of calculus teaching. The use of technologies can enhance the calculus teaching, especially the informal and visual calculus teaching, help students understand the underlying concepts. The authors describe how the use of technologies can improve the calculus teaching and learning, and point out that the use of technologies can clear up people's doubts.