From the FileAuthor(s): Ann BolingSource: The Arithmetic Teacher, Vol. 34, No. 6, FOCUS ISSUE: CALCULATORS (February 1987),p. 66Published by: National Council of Teachers of MathematicsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41193108 .

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New Books For Teachers

From NCTM 20-percent discount for individual NCTM members on NCTM publications

Estimation and Mental Computa- tion. Harold L. Schoen, ed. 1986 Yearbook. 1986, 248 pp., $16. NCTM, 1906 Association Dr., Reston, VA 22091.

The most recent NCTM yearbook has twenty- seven offerings from mathematicians, mathe- matics teachers, and mathematics educators on an increasingly important topic. The articles

Edited by A. Dean Hendrickson University oj Minnesota, Duluth Duluth, MN 55812

concern teaching estimation and mental compu- tation, varieties of estimation, teaching estima- tion in measurement, and testing and research. The topics include the complete range of num- ber systems, from whole numbers through dec- imals and percents to integration and the use of matrices.

The book is replete with specific examples for classroom use. Also given for teachers are several good reasons for the use of estimation and approximation and situations in which these processes are useful and appropriate.

Teachers at all levels from grade 5 through grade 12 can find helpful ideas to improve their teaching of these topics.

I Can Count the Petals of a Flower, 2d ed. John and Stacey Wahl. 1985, 36 pp., $8 cloth. ISBN 0-87353-224-4. NCTM, 1906 Asso- ciation Dr., Reston, VA 22091.

The second edition of this popular, award- winning, full-color picture book is designed to offer enjoyable experiences in counting for young children, particularly. It has the added benefit of offering children and adults the op-

portunity to learn the names and characteristics of many common flowers.

The photography and color are excellent. A creative teacher can find many ways to use this book beyond simple counting lessons.

From Other Publishers

Mathematics Appreciation. Theoni Pappas. 1986, 154 pp., $12.95 paper. ISBN 0-933174-28-4. Math Aids, P.O. Box 64, San Carlos, CA 94070.

This volume has ten lessons covering the Fibonacci sequence, the golden rectangle, pa- per folding, non-Euclidean geometries, flexagons, the cycloid, topics in topology, magic squares, and mathematics sources in the library. They are designed to be used for en- richment at a level the teacher thinks appropri- ate.

Objectives are given for each lesson, along with an outline and answers to the problems. Background material is included for each les- son. Since no permission is given to copy the assignments for students, it is assumed that

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Objective: To arrange a set of decimal jJ¿ '!'^^ ry>fe C*' numbers in order from least to greatest. (fJÊ I PiVí QTfT / /u#iì' Materials: Decimals written on 8V2" x 11" (j •T*T 'C¿ •+ • C/#^^*H

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sheets of paper (one number on each ^.JZ^^gJ'w wi 11 '^p- m*r sheet) paper (one number on each

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Directions IL^l CX.3 ¿~-C /t^x I 1 . Give a decimal to each class member. ¿~~Hl' CX.3 C I ^ 2. Divide the class into teams of three to five students each. 3. Each team must go to a separate part of the room and arrange its members in a line, with the member holding the smallest number in the front and other team members in line behind him or her in the order of the numbers held. 4. The first team to arrange itself in the correct order wins. 5. The team size can be increased to make the game more difficult. This activity can be modified for lower grades to teach several concepts involving ordering.

From the file of Ann Boling, Jackson Municipal Separate School District, Jackson, MS 39203-3097

- Readers are encouragea to send in two copies of their classroom-tested ideas for "From the File" to the managing editor for review. -

66 Arithmetic Teacher

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