• School Mathematics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.315-330
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• 2012

Mathematics educators have tried to teach mathematics to all students who are at any mathematical level by differentiated math instruction from late 1990s in Korea. The common differentiated math instruction separates students into two or three groups according to their mathematical ability and then different activities and tasks are given to each group. This kind of instruction fosters negative attitudes to mathematics to low level students and fix them at low level. So I investigated new mathematics instruction considering able students and low attainers at the same time. This new method is based on using open problems in math class. All students can respond to an open problem in different ways. If teachers could relate all varieties of answers got from students at every level to build good understanding the concept which the problem target at, low attainers could move to their potential developmental levels. This kind of instruction can change low math attainers' negative attitudes to good ones to mathematics and foster their confidence in performing mathematics.