• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.219-245
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the next curriculum revision, as well as to foster improvements to the quality of the Korean elementary school math classes by analyzing and comparing the Korean 2015 revised curriculum with the current Japanese curriculum of math. To accomplish this purpose, the research questions were set as follows. 1. What are the directions for revising Korean 2015 revised curriculum and the Japanese curriculum for elementary school mathematics? 2. What is the difference between the elements of learning content offered in the respective Korean and Japanese curriculums for elementary school mathematics? The conclusions of this study are as follows. Firstly, although Korea and Japan share common core statistical education objectives, they approach their goals with different methods. Korea focuses on academic competency, while Japan focuses on fostering the "power to live". For the learning process, Korea emphasized process-focused evaluation, while Japan emphasized fostering mathematical thought and thinking through mathematical activities. For class improvement, Korea focused on reducing the learning burden through appropriating the amount of learning by shifting or removing some elements of the learning content. Japan, on the other hand, refocused their attention on improving active learning within the classroom, and also increased the hours of math class within their curriculum. Secondly, there was a difference in the content composition of the curriculums of Korea and Japan. By comparing the elements of learning content, I got the conclusions for the next curriculum revision in Korea.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to diagnose the current states and the problems of student assessment of Elementary School Mathematics. For that purpose, this study conducted a survey and had the individual interviews. The surrey items consisted of the six main parts: questions about the development of assessment tools, the method to assess, the grading, the special supplementary courses, the opening of learning effect, and the follow-up guidances. The results of this study are as the follow First, elementary teachers depended heavily on internet sites for developing assessment problems. Second, elementary teachers made use of a performance assessment, a unit assessment, and a term examination at ordinary times. Third, unit assessment was largely referred for grading by elementary teachers. Fourth, in selecting the students for the special supplementary courses, both criterion-referenced assessment and norm-referenced assessment were considered. After finishing the special supplementary courses, additional tests were usually taken. Fifth, elementary teachers took a negative attitude in opening of learning effect. specialty opening of test paper to parents of students was done under 30%. Sixth, fellow-up guidances were the most through the classroom guidances. but consulting with parents of students was not frequently conducted by teachers.

• The Journal of Korean Association of Computer Education
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.109-119
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• 2006

Algorithm is a fundamental concept for all related research areas in computer science. Though many researches have paid attention to computer algorithm in solving applied problems, few researches have been conducted on how to effectively instruct the computer algorithm concept. This paper proposed the instructional method for the computer algorithm concept by using mathematics problems of the fourth grade, elementary school. We have applied our the instructional methodology to classroom, and empirically tested the effectiveness of our methodology. The results show that the effectiveness of instructional method, compared to the traditional instructional methodology.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.111-125
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• 2000

This paper presents cross-national perspectives on challenges in implementing current mathematics education reform ideals. This paper includes detailed qualitative descriptions of mathematics instruction from unevenly successful second-grade classrooms both in Koran and in the U. S with regared to reform recommendations. Despits dramatic differences in mathematics achivement between Korean and the U.S student. problems in both countries with regard to mathematics education are perceived to be very similar. The shared problems have a common origin in teacher-centered instruction. Educational leaders in both countries have persistently attempted to change the teacher-centered pedagogy to a student-centered approach. Many teachers report familiarity with and adherence to reform ideas, but their actual classroom teaching practices do not reflect the full implications of the reform ideals. Given the challenges in implementing reform, this study explored the breakdown that may occur between teachers adoption of reform objectives and their successful incorporation of reform ideals by comparing and contrasting two reform-oriented classrooms in both countries. This comparison and contrast provided a unique opportunity to reflect on possible subtle but crucial issues with regard to reform implementation. Thus, this study departed from past international comparisons in which the common objective has been to compare general social norma of typical mathematics classes across countries. This study was and exploratory, qualitative, comparative case study using grounded theory methodology based on constant comparative analysis for which the primary data sources were classroom video recordings and transcripts. The Korean portion of this study was conducted by the team of four researchers, including the author. The U.S portion of this study and a brief joint analysis were conducted by the author. This study compared and contrasted the classroom general social norms and sociomathematical norms of two Korean and two U.S second-grade teachers who aspired to implement reform. The two classrooms in each country were chosen because of their unequal success in activating the reform recommendation. Four mathematics lessons were videotaped from Korean classes, whereas fourteen lessons were videotaped from the U.S. classes. Intensive interviews were conducted with each teacher. The two classes within each country established similar participation patterns but very different sociomathematical norms. In both classes open-ended questioning, collaborative group work, and students own problem solving constituted the primary modes of classroom participation. However in one class mathematical significance was constituted as using standard algorithm with accuracy, whereas the other established a focus on providing reasonable and convincing arguments. Given these different mathematical foci, the students in the latter class had more opportunities to develop conceptual understanding than their counterparts. The similarities and differences to between the two teaching practices within each country clearly show that students learning opportunities do not arise social norms of a classroom community. Instead, they are closely related to its sociomathematical norms. Thus this study suggests that reform efforts highlight the importance of sociomathematical norms that established in the classroom microculture. This study also provides a more caution for the Korean reform movement than for its U.S. counterpart.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.313-328
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• 2017

This study aims to identify prospective elementary school teachers' perception of mathematical modeling in elementary class. Forty elementary school teachers participated in this study. Each teacher analysed the previous case studies about mathematical modeling in elementary class, developed a hypothetical learning trajectory, applied the hypothetical learning trajectory to his/her class, reflected students' learning and his/her teaching, and made reflective journals. These journals contained teachers' perception of mathematical modeling and the difficulties that teachers experienced in teaching mathematics as mathematical modeling. These journals were analyzed to identify teachers' perception of mathematical modeling in elementary class. This study shows that teachers have common features of mathematical modeling but their perspectives are little bit different, are classified into four kinds. And the difficulties that teachers experienced in teaching mathematics as mathematical modeling are classified into 5 categories; Task, Students' cognitive demand, Teacher' monitering, All students' participation, and Classroom culture. At last, suggestions for mathematical modeling in elementary class are done according to the result of this study.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.239-257
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• 2016

The Common Core States Standards was developed by building on the best state standards in the U.S.; examining the expectations of other highperforming countries around world; and carefully studying the research and literature available on what students need to know. The Common Core States Standards for Mathematics are reshaping the teaching and learning of mathematics in California classroom using the California Common Core States Standards for Mathematics(CA CCSSM). The aim of this study is to observe CA CCSSM. The CA CCSSM were established to address the problem of having a curriculum that is 'a mile wide and an inch deep'. And it have two types of standards. One is standards for mathematical practice which are the same at each grade level, the other is standards for mathematical content which are different at each grade level. This study focused on standards for mathematical content, in particular, on Geometry domain in elementary level, using Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2002

This study described an elementary teacher's practical knowledge of selecting and using mathematical tasks for promoting students' understanding and discourse. The informant of this ethnographic inquiry was a third grade teacher and has 10 years of teaching experience. According to the analysis of multiple data sources, this study showed that based on his beliefs about the development of understanding of mathematics and discourse, he continually employed two different types of tasks: open-ended tasks and tasks from students' mistakes and comments during discourse. Teachers' practical knowledge of teaching mathematics and the classroom norms for students' understanding and discourse are suggested to be given attention for further research on this area.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.195-206
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of teacher on fourth-grade students' attitudes toward mathematics using data from TIMSS 2011. Students' attitudes toward mathematics included interest in learning mathematics, interest in mathematics lessons, and confidence in their mathematics ability. Teacher factors included mathematics professional development, confidence in teaching mathematics, teacher-centered mathematics instruction, and enhancing student mathematical thinking. The two level Hierarchical Linear Model was employed to analyze the relationship between teacher factors and student attitudes. Results showed that teacher-centered mathematics instruction significantly and positively predicted students' confidence about their mathematics ability. The findings suggest that school systems and mathematics educators need to provide teachers with the curriculum, assessment, and research-based practices and knowledge to overcome the obstacles to change their mathematics classroom.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.201-225
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• 2022

This paper details case study vignettes that focus on enhancing the teaching and learning of geometry and measurement in the elementary grades with attention to pedagogical practices for teaching through problem solving with rigor and centering equitable teaching practices. Rigor is a matter of equity and opportunity (Dana Center, 2019). Rigor matters for each and every student and yet research indicates historically disadvantaged and underserved groups have more of an opportunity gap when it comes to rigorous mathematics instruction (NCTM, 2020). Along with providing a conceptual framework that focuses on the importance of equitable instruction, our study unpacks ways teachers can leverage their deep understanding of geometry and measurement learning trajectories to amplify the mathematics through rigorous problems using multiple approaches including learning by doing, challenged-based and mathematical modeling instruction. Through these vignettes, we provide examples of tasks taught through rigorous problem solving approaches that support conceptual teaching and learning of geometry and measurement. Specifically, each of the three vignettes presented includes a task that was implemented in an elementary classroom and a vertically articulated task that engaged teachers in a professional learning workshop. By beginning with elementary tasks to more sophisticated concepts in higher grades, we demonstrate how vertically articulating a deeper understanding of the learning trajectory in geometric thinking can add to the rigor of the mathematics.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.137-173
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• 2021

Research and national standards, such as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in the United States, promote the development and implementation of K-12 interdisciplinary curricula integrating the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science (STEM+CS). However, little research has explored how teachers provide epistemic support in interdisciplinary contexts or the factors that inform teachers' epistemic support in STEM+CS activities. The goal of this paper is to articulate how interdisciplinary instruction complicates epistemic knowledge and resources needed for teachers' instructional decision-making. Toward these ends, this paper builds upon existing models of teachers' instructional decision-making in individual STEM+CS disciplines to highlight specific challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary approaches on classroom epistemic supports. First, we offer considerations as to how teachers can provide epistemic support for students to engage in disciplinary practices across mathematics, science, engineering, and computer science. We then support these considerations using examples from our studies in elementary classrooms using integrated STEM+CS curriculum materials. We focus on an elementary school context, as elementary teachers necessarily integrate disciplines as part of their teaching practice when enacting NGSS-aligned curricula. Further, we argue that as STEM+CS interdisciplinary curricula in the form of NGSS-aligned, project-based units become more prevalent in elementary settings, careful attention and support needs to be given to help teachers not only engage their students in disciplinary practices across STEM+CS disciplines, but also to understand why and how these disciplinary practices should be used. Implications include recommendations for the design of professional learning experiences and curriculum materials.