• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.537-555
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• 2017

This paper compared and contrasted Korean and Singaporean textbooks in order to explore the direction and possibility of teaching the big ideas related to the addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators proposed by Lee & Pang (2016a). Firstly, we examined the teaching sequences related to the addition of fractions with different denominators in a series of elementary mathematics textbooks of Korea and Singapore. We then analyzed what types of representations are used and how the representations are presented for the big ideas related to the addition of fractions with different denominators. The results of the analysis showed that the contents related to fraction addition are addressed more gradually and systematically in Singaporean textbooks compared to Korean counterparts. The graphical representations appeared in the Singaporean textbooks provide specific implications for teaching the big ideas of the addition of fractions with different denominators. Based on such implications, we expect that the big ideas related to the addition of fractions with different denominators will be addressed explicitly and systematically in Korean textbooks.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.407-430
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• 2016

In this study, we analyzed and discussed the instruction method of multiplication tables in mathematics textbooks from four countries in Asia; South Korea, China, Japan, and Singapore. The conclusions of remarks are states as follows: First. The teaching period and elements should be subdivided more structurally so that the learner could understand the concept and principle of multiplication tables better. Second. The bundle model, the linear model, and the array model of multiplication need to be presented so that the learners could experience various situations related to multiplication. Third, The concrete explanation and the higher frequency of presenting the commutative rules of multiplication is suggested so that the learner could understand the concept of the rules well. Fourth. The context related to multiplication by 1 and 0 should be presented so that the learner could comprehend the character of multiplication by 1 and 0. Fifth. The activities which helping memorizing a multiplication table should be suggested when the memorization is needed.

• School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.209-228
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• 2017

Understanding decimal numbers is important in mathematics as well as real-life contexts. However, lots of students focus on procedures or algorithms of decimal numbers without understanding its meanings. This study analyzed teaching method related to decimal numbers in a series of mathematics textbooks of Korea, Japan, Singapore and the US. The results showed that three countries except Japan introduced the decimal numbers as another name of fraction, which highlights the relation between the concept of decimal numbers and fractions. And limited meanings of decimal numbers were shown such as 'equal parts of a whole' and 'measurement'. Especially in the korean textbooks, relationships between the decimals were dealt instrumentally and small number of models such as number lines or $10{\times}10$ grids were used repeatedly. Based these results, this study provides implications on what and how to deal with decimal numbers in teaching and learning decimal numbers with textbooks.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-130
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• 2018

In this study, I compared and analyzed the contents of Korean, Japanese, Singapore, American, and Finnish textbooks about fraction which is one of the important and difficult concepts in elementary school mathematics. This is aimed to get the implications for meaningful fractional teaching and learning by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the methods and time of introducing the concept because fraction has the diversity of the sub-concepts and the introducing methods or process. As a result of the analysis, the fraction was introduced as part-whole(area) in all five countries' textbooks, but the use of number line, conversion between improper fraction and mixed number, whether to deal with part-whole(set) model. Furthermore, there are differences in the methods in obtaining of the equivalent fraction and the order of arrangement in comparison of fraction. Through this analysis, we discussed the reconsideration of the introducing contexts of fractions, the use of number line when introducing fractions, and the problem of segmentation and classification of contents.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.421-440
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• 2010

Our country has excessive amount of learning per hour compared with Japan and Singapore. And as there is no consistence for definition of time between grades, it deteriorates understanding of students. Our country teaches students focusing on time algorism whereas Japan and Singapore teaches their students focusing on flow of time. In composing of mathematics textbook in Korea, Japan and Singapore, textbook of our country contains far more of learning compared with the amount designated in textbooks. Textbooks of Japan contains less teaching elements, but instead it contains much activities to expedite time sense As time is distributed in activities of students, it is more important to construct textbooks with experience of students rather than algorism approaches. In addition, textbooks of Singapore contains various examples and clarified concepts compared with those of our country. Like above, time teaching deployment methods of Japan and Singapore gives us good lessons for teaching time in our country, and it is expected be good reference for future development of our textbooks.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.289-307
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• 2018

Although mixed calculation of natural numbers is important in that it completes arithmetic calculation of natural numbers in elementary school, few studies have been conducted regarding its instruction methods. Given this, this study analyzed Korean mathematics textbooks (from the fifth textbooks to the 2009 revised textbooks) along with Japanese and Singaporean textbooks in terms of the parentheses and the order of operations regarding mixed calculation of natural numbers. The results of this study showed that there were differences in introducing the parentheses and representing them in an explicit way per textbooks. In the Korean textbooks, the order of operations was presented mostly with the real-life contexts but it was not always in a diagrammatic representation. In contrast, in the Singaporean textbooks, the order of operations was presented without the real-life contexts and the use of calculators was emphasized. In the Japanese textbooks, the order of operations was presented with the real-life contexts and a hierarchy of operations was emphasized. Based on these results, this study suggested several implications of textbook development and instructional methods regarding mixed calculations of natural numbers.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-43
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• 2009

The fraction concept consists of various meanings and is one of the abstract and difficult in elementary school mathematics. This study intends to find out the implication for introducing the fraction concept by comparing mathematics textbooks of Korea and Singapore. Both countries' students peformed well in recent TIMMSs. Some implications are as follows; The term 'equal' is not defined and the results of various 'equal partitioning' activities can not easily examined in Korea's mathematics textbook. And contexts of introducing fractions as a quotient and a ratio are unnatural in Korea's mathematics textbook in comparison with Singapore's mathematics textbook. So these ideas should be reconsidered in order to seek the direction for improvement of it. And Korea's textbooks need the emphasis on the fraction as a measure and on constructing fraction concept by unit fraction.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.335-354
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to explore alternative ways of teaching derivatives in a way that emphasizes intuition. For this purpose, the contents related to derivatives in Korean curriculum and textbooks were analyzed by comparing with contents in Singapore Curriculum and textbooks. Singapore, where the curriculum deals with derivatives relatively earlier than Korea, introduces the concept of derivatives and differentiation as the slope of tangent instead of the rate of instantaneous change in textbook. Also, Singapore use technology and inductive extrapolation to emphasize intuition rather than form and logic. Further, from the results of the exploration of other foreign cases, we confirm that the UK and Australia also emphasized intuition in teaching derivatives and differentiation. Based on the results, we discuss the meaning and implication of introducing derivatives and teaching differentiation in a way that emphasizes intuition. Finally, we propose the implications for the alternative way of teaching differentiation.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.375-396
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• 2016

This study considered Elementary school textbook and teacher's manual in Korea in terms of theories on counting. First we considered the meaning of counting in elementary school mathematics based on many preceding researches. And we compared textbooks in Korea with foreign textbooks in Singapore, China, USA. As a result, compared with Korea, these foreign textbooks reflect the theories on counting more actively. First of all, they consider counting to be an important basis for the four operations. Teacher's manual in Korea introduces the theories on counting, but the content was limited and thread was not clear. Based on these consideration, We discussed reflection of elementary school textbook in terms of theories on counting.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.135-160
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• 2017

Since mathematics textbooks for 6th graders based on the 2009 revised national curriculum were applied to the site, there has been a note pointing out that the unit of 'ratio and rate' causes some learning difficulties. This implies the necessity of search for desirable methods of organizing the unit of ratio and rate in mathematics textbooks. This study analyzed and compared Korean and foreign mathematics textbooks on ratio and rate longitudinally and horizontally, respectively. For longitudinal analysis, we selected the mathematics textbooks according to the national curriculum since the 5th one. For horizontal analysis, we took the mathematics textbooks of Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Finland. In each textbook, the contents and the order in relation to ratio and rate, the definitions of terminology, and the methods for introducing related concepts are set as the analysis framework. The results of analysis revealed many characteristics and the differences in ways of dealing contents about ratio and rate. Based on these results, we suggested some implications for writing the unit of ratio and rate in elementary mathematics textbooks.