• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.205-224
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• 2017

A model method has been known as the main characteristic of Singaporean elementary mathematics textbooks. However, little research has been conducted on how the model method is employed in the textbooks. In this study, we extracted contents related to the model method in the Singaporean elementary mathematics curriculum and then analyzed the characteristics of the model method applied to the textbooks. Specifically, this study investigated the units and lessons where the model method was employed, and explored how it was addressed for what purpose according to the numbers and operations. The results of this study showed that the model method was applied to the units and lessons related to operations and word problems, starting from whole numbers through fractions to decimals. The model method was systematically applied to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tailored by the grade levels. It was also explicitly applied to all stages of the problem solving process. Based on these results, this study described the implications of using a main model in the textbooks to demonstrate the structure of the given problem consistently and systematically.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.331-344
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• 2020

This study aims to find meaningful implications for the development of Korean elementary school math education courses and textbooks by comparing and analyzing the number and arithmetic areas of Korean and Canadian math textbooks in fifth and sixth grades. To this end, the textbook composition system of Korean and Canadian elementary schools was compared and analyzed, and the number and timing of introduction of math textbooks and math textbooks by grade, and the number in fifth and sixth grade and the learning contents of math textbooks were compared and analyzed. The following conclusions were obtained from this study: First, it is necessary to organize a textbook that can solve the problem in an integrated way by introducing the learned mathematical concepts and computations naturally in the context of problems closely related to real life, regardless of the type of private calculation or mathematics area. Second, it is necessary to organize questions using materials such as real photography and mathematics, science, technology, engineering, art, etc. and to organize textbooks that make people feel the necessity and usefulness of mathematics. Third, sufficient learning of the principles of mathematics through the use of various actual teaching aids and mathematical models, and the construction of textbooks focusing on problem-solving strategies using engineering tools are needed. Fourth, in-depth discussions are needed on the timing of learning guidance for fractions and minority learning or how to organize and develop learning content.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-38
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the responses and the behavioral characteristics between mathematically promising students and normal students in solving open-ended problems. For this study, 55 mathematically promising students were selected from the Science Education Institute for the Gifted at Seoul National University of Education as well as 100 normal students from three 6th grade classes of a regular elementary school. The students were given 50 minutes to complete a written test consisting of five open-ended problems. A post-test interview was also conducted and added to the results of the written test. The conclusions of this study were summarized as follows: First, analysis and grouping problems are the most suitable in an open-ended problem study to stimulate the creativity of mathematically promising students. Second, open-ended problems are helpful for mathematically promising students' generative learning. The mathematically promising students had a tendency to find a variety of creative methods when solving open-ended problems. Third, mathematically promising students need to improve their ability to make-up new conditions and change the conditions to solve the problems. Fourth, various topics and subjects can be integrated into the classes for mathematically promising students. Fifth, the quality of students' former education and its effect on their ability to solve open-ended problems must be taken into consideration. Finally, a creative thinking class can be introduce to the general class. A number of normal students had creativity score similar to those of the mathematically promising students, suggesting that the introduction of a more challenging mathematics curriculum similar to that of the mathematically promising students into the general curriculum may be needed and possible.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

In this paper, in order to lay the foundation for clearly determining the scope of contents handled in elementary math textbooks in Korea, what may be issues are discussed with respect to the contents handled in the current math textbooks. First of all, handling of percent point, concave polygons, and possibilities of event that will happen are discussed, the handling of them can be a issue in the sense of inconsistencies to the curriculum. Next, handling of fractions attaching units of discrete quantities and fractions attaching 'times' are discussed, the handling of them can be a issue in the sense of gap between everyday life and definition in math textbooks. Finally, handling of representing natural numbers into fractions and the positional relationship of geometrical figures are discussed, the handling of them can be a issue in the sense of a logical jump. The following three implications obtained from these discussions are presented as conclusions. First, it is necessary to establish clearly the relationship of textbooks and curriculum. Second, it is necessary to give attention to using the way to define or deal with concepts in math textbooks mixed with the way to use them in everyday life. Third, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the logical jumps in math textbooks.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.655-676
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of teaching on functional thinking, one of the algebraic thinking in sixth grade students level. For this study, we developed functional thinking based-teaching through analyzing mathematical curriculum and preceding research, which consisted of 12 classes, and we investigated the effects of teaching through quantitative and qualitative analysis. In the results of this study, functional thinking based-teaching was statistically proven to be more effective in improving algebraic reasoning skills and lower elements which is an algebraic reasoning as generalized arithmetic and functional thinking, compared to traditional textbook-centered lessons. In addition, the functional thinking based-teaching gave a positive impact on the functional thinking level. Thus functional thinking based-teaching provides guidance on the implications for teaching and learning methods and study of the functional thinking in the future, because of the significant impact on the mathematics learning in six grade students.

• School Mathematics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.243-262
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• 2013

This study attempts to create an analytical framework of the transformation and transmission of knowledge by teachers to students. I focuses on the assertion that the cognitive thinking of a teacher is reflected in his use of mathematical language. Mathematical language is one of the critical elements of communicating mathematical knowledge to students. I examined the cognitive teaching style of different teachers as expressed in their use of mathematical language. An analytical framework of Mathematics Teaching styles was created integrating thinking factors of each visual and analytic style into 5 categories. After that, I regarding the teaching style of mathmatics teachers places its significance not on which teaching style is right or wrong but on identifying the strong and weak points of the teaching styles through actual analysis. With the help of this analytical framework, I conducted an analysis on the videotaped classes and found that the teachers were not biased to one side but in fact there were teachers who demonstrated visual, analytic or mixed teaching style. Therefore, I concludes that math teachers can analyze their teaching styles and improve them through the analytical framework provided in these findings.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.171-194
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• 2006

As it is not long since the gifted education was implemented in elementary school, it is necessary to accumulate the practical studies on the mathematically gifted education. This paper focused on enhancing creativity by providing the various and divergent thinking activities for mathematically gifted students. For this purpose, I prepared two mathematics problems, and , and let the mathematically gifted 5th grade students solve them. After that, I investigated to analyse their reactions in detail and tried to find the methods for assessing their divergent products. Finally, I found that they could pose various and meaningful calculating equations and also identify the various relations between two numbers. I expect that accumulating these kinds of practical studies will contribute to the developments of gifted education, in particular, instructions, assessments, and curriculum developments for the mathematically gifted students in elementary schools.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.247-265
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to analyze the essence of ratio concept from educational viewpoint. For this purpose, it was tried to examine contents and organizations of the recent teaching of ratio concept in elementary school text of Korea from ‘Syllabus Period’ to ‘the 7th Curriculum Period’ In these text most ratio problems were numerically and algorithmically approached. So the Wiskobas programme was introduced, in which the focal point was not on mathematics as a closed system but on the activity, on the process of mathematization and the subject ‘ratio’ was assigned an important place. There are some educational implications of this study which needs to be mentioned. First, the programme for developing proportional reasoning should be introduced early Many students have a substantial amount of prior knowledge of proportional reasoning. Second, conventional symbol and algorithmic method should be introduced after students have had the opportunity to go through many experiences in intuitive and conceptual way. Third, context problems and real-life situations should be required both to constitute and to apply ratio concept. While working on contort problems the students can develop proportional reasoning and understanding. Fourth, In order to assist student's learning process of ratio concept, visual models have to recommend to use.

• School Mathematics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.385-399
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• 2003

In our present elementary mathematics curriculum, natural numbers are taught by using the a method of one-to-one correspondence or counting operation which are not related to measurement, and fractional numbers are taught by using a method which is partially related to measurement. The most serious limitation of these teaching methods is that natural numbers and fractional numbers are separated. To overcome this limitation, Dewey and Davydov insisted that the natural number and the fractional number should be taught by measurement of quantity. In this article, we suggested a method of teaching the natural number and the fractional number by measurement of quantity based on the claims of Dewey and Davydov, and compare it with our current method. In conclusion, we drew some educational implications of teaching the natural number and the fractional number by measurement of quantity as follows. First, the concepts of the natural number and the fractional number evolve from measurement of quantity. Second, the process of transition from the natural number to the fractional number became to continuous. Third, the natural number, the fractional number, and their lower categories are closely related.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.367-381
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• 2019

This investigation engaged elementary and middle school pre-service teachers in a task of modeling and explaining the magnitude of $0.14m^2$ and examined their responses. The study analyzed both successful and unsuccessful responses in order to reflect on the patterns of misconceptions relative to pre-service teachers' prior knowledge. The findings suggest a need to promote opportunities for pre-service teachers to make connections between different domains through meaningful tasks, to reason abstractly and quantitatively, to use proper language, and to refine conceptual understanding. While mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) could use such mathematical tasks to identify the mathematical content needs of pre-service teachers, MTEs generally use instructional time to connect content and pedagogy. More importantly, an early and consistent exposure to a combined experience of mathematics and pedagogy that connects and deepens key concepts in the program's curriculum is critical in defining the important content knowledge for K-8 mathematics teachers.