Abstract
During the last decade several major shifts have occurred in the conceptualisation of mathematics as a domain, of mathematical competence as a goal for instruction, and of the way in which this competence should be acquired through schooling. This chapter begins with a summary of the general characteristics and principles underlying the ongoing world-wide reform of mathematics education. Afterwards it documents and illustrates how these general characteristics and principles permeate a major domain of the mathematics curricula for the elementary school, called ‘Number and Arithmetic’. Five related topics within this domain are discussed, namely: number concepts and number sense, the meaning of arithmetic operations, mastery of basic arithmetic facts, mental and written computation, and word problems as applications of the numerical and arithmetical knowledge and skills.
The final section lists some remaining issues and tasks for further curriculum research and development in the domain of number and arithmetic.
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Verschaffel, L., De Corte, E. (1996). Number and Arithmetic. In: Bishop, A.J., Clements, K., Keitel, C., Kilpatrick, J., Laborde, C. (eds) International Handbook of Mathematics Education. Kluwer International Handbooks of Education, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1465-0_4
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