Department of Mathematics

Faculty Research and Scholarship

Mathematics Education

Dr. Honi J. Bambarger's current research interests continue to be the effect that professional development has on the attitudes and teaching techniques of classroom teachers and the effect that this has on the achievement and attitudes of students.  Much of this work is being done in high poverty schools, and school systems   Dr. Bamberger is currently in her seventh year of a research study that began in Mobile, Alabama and is now being replicated in Hoover and Decatur, Alabama   The Mobile Mathematics Initiative (MMI) is a collaborative effort between the Mobile Area Education Foundation, the University of South Alabama, and the professional development team, led by Dr. Bamberger.

Some of Dr. Bamberger's recent publications include:

• Honi Bamberger and Christine Oberdorf, Introduction to Connections: Grades PreK –2, Heinemann Publications, Portsmouth, NH, October 2007.
• Honi Bamberger, What Does It Mean to Differentiate Instruction in the Elementary Classroom, Intersection: Mathematics Educators Sharing Common Ground (Spring 2007).
• Honi Bamberger and Christine Oberdorf, Introduction to Connections: Grades 3 – 5, Heinemann Publications, Portsmouth, NH, March 2007.
• Honi Bamberger, Promoting Mathematics Communication Through Daily Data Collecting, The Banneker Banner (Spring 2006).
• Honi Bamberger, Daily Data Activities and their Effect on Student Achievement, The Banneker Banner (Fall 2005).
• Honi J. Bamberger, Susan A. Pruet, and James P. VanHaneghan, Mathematics reform in a minority community: student outcomes, Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (Spring 2004).

Dr. Bamberger's most recent grants are:

• Building Capacity for Continuous Improvement Program for the Area 1 Title 1 K–8 Schools, with R. Michael Krach and Todd Moyer, from the Baltimore City Public School System (2005–2006).
• To write four mathematics modules for the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on: Pre-Number, Number, Geometry, and Measurement, from the Maryland Model for School Readiness (MMSR) (Summer 2003).

Dr. Bamberger also has presented papers at many conferences and meetings of which the most recent are listed below:

• “Creating mathematicians out of the littlest of learner”s, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Regional Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey, October 20, 2006.
• “Connecting literature and writing into your mathematics program”, Weekend Institute, Newark, New Jersey, February 2006.
• “Enhancing measurement instruction for kindergarten - grade two students”, Weekend Institute, Newark, New Jersey, February 2006.
• “Activities to promote a clear understanding of measurement at the middle grades”, in-service program for the Decatur City Schools, Decatur, Alabama, January 2006.
• “Activities to promote an understanding of probability and statistics”, in-service program for the Teacher Leadership Academy, Mobile, Alabama, January 2006.
• “Defining mathematics education that narrows the achievement gap”, The 82nd Annual Meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Philadelphia, April 2004.
• “Activities to promote algebraic thinking in the early grades”, The 82nd Annual Meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Philadelphia, April 2004.
• “Reaching all children: ask more, tell less”, keynote address at the Annual Meeting of Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM), October 2003.

Some of Dr. Kaplan's recent publications include:

• Gail Kaplan, Flatland: a novel approach to mathematics, Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Spring, 2008).
• Gail Kaplan, Trigonometry through a ferris wheel, Mathematics Teacher (to appear).
• Gail Kaplan, The catenary: art, architecture, history, and mathematics, Conference Proceedings of Bridges Leeuwarden, Holland: Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, and Science (Spring, 2008).
• Gail Kaplan, Discovering the area of a circle: Egyptian style, Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Spring 2007).
• Gail Kaplan, Mathematics and symmetry: a bridge to understanding, Conference Proceedings of Bridges San Sebastian: Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, and Science (Spring, 2007).
• Gail Kaplan, Playing with dominos [better known as proof by induction], Mathematics Teacher (to appear).
• Gail Kaplan, Interdisciplinary bridges: a novel approach for teaching mathematics, Conference Proceedings of Bridges London: Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, and Science (Spring, 2006).
• Gail Kaplan, Pasta, a delectable way to graph trigonometric functions, Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Spring 2006).

Some of Dr. Kaplan's recent presentations at conferences include:

• “Mastering trigonometry by playing with ferris wheels, pasta, and more”, speaker at the Eastern Regional Conference of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Richmond, October 2007
• “Discovery projects: an exhilarating journey in high school mathematics”, invited speaker at the Eastern Regional Conference of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Baltimore, October 2004.
• “A mathematical stroll through the Maryland Science Center”, invited speaker at the Eastern Regional Conference of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Baltimore, October 2004.

Dr. Kaplan has conducted workshops at International and National conferences.  Some of her recent presentations at conferences include:

• A workshop at the April 2005 Annual Meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics which provided teachers with the opportunity to experience creative projects that expand the algebraic notion of function to unusual settings, including trigonometric graphs made from pasta, inverse trig rummy, and ferris wheel trigonometry.
• A one-week workshop training teachers how to teach AP Calculus, Philadelphia School System, August 2004.
• Two workshops on discovery projects, The Tenth International Congress on Mathematics Education (ICME-10), Copenhagen, July 2004.

Dr. Kaplan received the following grants:

• A College Preparation Intervention for the Dundalk and Holabird Middle Schools, with R. Michael Krach and Todd Moyer, a GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (2006 and renewed for 2007).

Some of Dr. Krach's recent publications include:

• R. Michael Krach, A numeration game in base 3, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics 56 (Autumn 2007), 53–54.
• R. Michael Krach, Brown bag experiment: a sampling activity, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics 54 (Autumn 2006).
• R. Michael Krach, Symmetry motions, an activity, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Autumn 2005).
• R. Michael Krach, Candy graph generator: a graphing calculator activity, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Autumn 2004).
• R. Michael Krach, Pentomino puzzle: a spatial reasoning activity, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Spring 2004).
• R. Michael Krach, The Pythagorean theorem: an activity, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Spring 2003).
• R. Michael Krach, Stepping stones: a numeration game, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Spring 2003).

Some of Dr. Krach's recent presentations at conferences include:

• “Problem solving workshops”, Maryland TESOL Annual Conference, 2006 and Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) Annual Conference, 2006.
• “Numerical and geometric problem solving activities for elementary and middle school students”, Workshop at Annual Meeting of the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM), Baltimore, Maryland, October 2005.

Dr. Krach received the following grants:

• A College Preparation Intervention for the Dundalk and Holabird Middle Schools, with Gail Kaplan and Todd Moyer, a GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (2006 and renewed for 2007).
• Building Capacity for Continuous Improvement Program for the Area 1 Title 1 K–8 Schools, with Honi Bamberger and Todd Moyer, from the Baltimore City Public School System (2005–2006).
• The Maryland Governor's Academy for Science and Mathematics (MSDE), with Kate Denniston, from the State of Maryland.
• Enhancing Mathematics Content Knowledge of Middle School Teachers in Cecil and Harford Counties, with Wei Sun, from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (2002-2003).

Some of Dr. Moyer's recent publications include:

• Todd Moyer and Edward Gambler, A Fathom Activity for the Central Limit Theorem, NCTM Mathematics Teacher (to appear).
• Todd Moyer, Simulating basketball free throws using Fathom, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics 56 (Autumn 2007), 16 –26.
• Todd Moyer, Non-geometry mathematics and The Geometer's Sketchpad, NCTM Mathematics Teacher 99 (No. 7, March 2006), 490–495.
• Todd Moyer, Geometry and the merger of reasoning methods, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematic (Autumn 2005).
• Todd Moyer, van Hiele? doesn't he play guitar in some rock band, The Banneker Banner (Spring/Summer 2004).

Some of Dr. Moyer's recent presentations at conferences include:

• “Teaching AP Calculus or Calculus I with the Geometer's Sketchpad”, Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, Millersville, MD, October 2006.
• “How can every student learn geometry”, Eastern Regional Conference of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Baltimore, Maryland, October 2004.

Dr. Moyer's most recent grants are:

• A College Preparation Intervention for the Dundalk and Holabird Middle Schools, with Gail Kaplan and R. Michael Krach, a GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (2006 and renewed for 2007).
• Building Capacity for Continuous Improvement Program for the Area 1 Title 1 K–8 Schools, with Honi Bamberger and R. Michael Krach, from the Baltimore City Public School System (2005–2006).

Some of Dr. Sarhangi's recent publications include:

• Reza Sarhangi and Slavik Jablan, Elementary Constructions of Persian Mosaics, Math Horizons 14 (No. 1, September 2006), 10–13.
• Elements of Geometry for Teachers, Pearson, Addison & Wesley Publication (2003).
• Reza Sarhangi, The use of computers for topics in undergraduate geometry, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Autumn 2003).
• Reza Sarhangi, Star polygons in geometry and art, and The Geometer’s Sketchpad, Journal of The Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2003).
• Reza Sarhangi, Review of M.C. Escher’s legacy: a centennial celebration, Notices of the American Mathematical Society 50 (Number 4, 2003).
• G. Meiselwitz, R. Sarhangi, and G. Trajkovski, Tessellation: a tool for diversity infusions in the curriculum, Proceedings of The Joint Meeting of The International Sociality of the Arts, Mathematics, and Architecture and the Bridges Conference (2003).

Among the grants Dr. Sarhangi has received are:

• Eisenhower Professional Development Program Grant; The Professional Development of Integrated Curricula in Mathematics Education, Kansas Board of Regents, 2000.
• Eisenhower Professional Development Program Grant; A Collaborative Effort for Professional Development in Mathematics, Science, and Art Education, Kansas Board of Regents, 1999.

Some of Dr. Shirley's recent publications include:

• Lawrence Shirley and Iorhemen J. Kyeleve, “A Cyclic Pattern of Mathematics Curriculum Trends”, Dhindsa, Harkirat et al (editors), “Future Directions in Science, Mathematics and Technical Education”, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, 2005.
• Lawrence Shirley, Sarah Greenwald and Amy Ksir, Thomas Fuller and his calculation ability, The Centroid (Journal of the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics) 30 (No. 1, Spring 2004), 15–19.
• Lawrence Shirley, Ethnomathematics as a fundamental of instructional methodology, Zentralblatt fur Didaktik der Mathematik--International Reviews on Mathematical Education Issue 2001/3 (June 2001).
• Lawrence Shirley, A visit from Pythagoras: using costumes in the classroom, Mathematics Teacher 93 (November 2000), 652-655.
• Lawrence Shirley, Twentieth century mathematics: a brief review of the century, Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School 5 (January 2000), 278-285, (cover story). [translated and reprinted in Educação e Matemática (Portugal), December 2000.]

Dr. Shirley also has presented papers at many conferences and meetings of which only a few are listed below:

• Numbers in culture, culture in numbers: my favorite numbers”, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting, St Louis MO,(April 2006).
• “Ethnomathematics in global education programs”, Third International Congress of Ethnomathematics (ICEM-3), Auckland, New Zealand, (February 2006).
• “Ethnomathematics: math in a cultural context”, International Studies Schools Association, Littleton CO,(February 2005).
• “Believing in impossible mathematics: historical examples”, Eastern Regional Conference of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Maryland, (October 2004).
• “Roundtable on ethnomathematics in teacher education” (coordinator), Second International Congress on Ethnomathematics, Ouro Preto, Brazil, (August 2002).
• “Mathematics and culture: a minicourse” from the February 2001 focus issue of Teaching Children Mathematics” (co-organizer), Annual Meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Orlando, Florida, (April 2001).
• “Ethnomathematics: a fundamental of instructional methodology”, Topic Study Group 21, International Congress of Mathematical Education-9, Tokyo, Japan, (July/August 2000).

Some of Dr. Shore's recent publications include:

• Felice Shore and Matt Pascal, The dreaded 'work' problems revisited: connections through problem solving from basic fractions to calculus, Mathematics Teacher 101 (No. 7 March 2008), 504–511.
• Felice Shore, Operating with integers: a familiar model under new contexts, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Autumn 2005).

Dr. Shore has received the following grant:

• A grant from the Middle Grades Partnership Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation to provide summer and school year enrichment for Baltimore City School children.

Some of Dr. Siegel's recent publications include:

• Martha J. Siegel, An article in War Stories from Applied Mathematics: Undergraduate Consultancy Projects, Robert Fraga, Editor, The Mathematical Association of America, MAA Notes #71, 67–80.
• Martha J. Siegel, Several articles in Leading the Mathematical Sciences Department: A Resource for Chairs, Tina H. Straley, Marcia P. Sward, and Jon W. Scott, Editors, The Mathematical Association of America, 2005.
• Larry J. Goldstein, David I. Schneider, and Martha J. Siegel, Finite Mathematics and Its Applications, 8th ed., Prentice Hall, 2004.
• Sheldon P. Gordon, Florence S. Gordon, Alan C. Tucker, and Martha J. Siegel, Functioning in the Real World: A Precalculus Experience, 2nd ed., Addison Wesley, 2004.

Dr. Siegel has received the following grants:

• NSF S-STEM Program grant, with Joyce C. Little and Gail Gasparich, COSMIC* Scholars, 2007-2011
• National Science Foundation (NSF)/National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) grant to attend International Congress on Mathematics Education -11 in Monterrey, Mexico, July 2007.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)/National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) grant to attend International Congress on Mathematics Education -10 in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 2004.
• NSF CSEMS Program grant, with Joyce C. Little, COSMIC Scholars, 2002-2006.

Some of Dr. Sun's recent publications include:

• Wei Sun, Making sense of fraction: lessons of Chinese curriculum, Journal of the Korea Society of Mathematical Education (September 2006).
• Wei Sun, Teaching percent through problem solving in Chinese classrooms, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Autumn 2004).
• W. Sun, and J. Zhang, Teaching addition and subtraction facts: a Chinese perspective, Teaching Children Mathematics 8 (September 2000).
• Wei Sun, “Mathematics education in China“, Encyclopedia of Mathematics Education, Routledge Falmer, New York, 111-113.
• Wei Sun, Mathematics curriculum for pre-service teachers in the People's Republic of China, Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education 3 (2), 191-199.
• M. Yarnevich, B. McShea and W. Sun, Spicing up number sense lessons with card games, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Fall 2000).

Some of Dr. Sun's recent presentations at National and International conferences include:

• Mathematics preparation for students in teacher education programs in China, 9th International Congress on Mathematics Education, Tokyo, August 2000.

Some of Dr. Yarnevich's recent publications include:

• M. Yarnevich, B. McShea and J. Vogel, Harry Potter and the magic of mathematics, NCTM, Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School (April 2005).
• M. Yarnevich and B. McShea, “How the number of credits of college mathematics affects mean salary and occupation choice. A comparison by gender”, Changing the Faces of Mathematics: Perspectives on Gender, The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Fall 2001.
• M. Yarnevich, B. McShea and W. Sun, Spicing up number sense lessons with card games, The Ohio Journal of School Mathematics (Fall 2000).

Dr. Yarnevich has received the following grant:

• Experiencing Geometry: Enhancing Prospective Elementary and Middle School Teacher, with Dr. Tad Watanabe, a CCLI Grant from the National Science Foundation.

Department of Mathematics
7800 York Road, Room 316 (campus map)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-3091
Fax: 410-704-4149
E-mail: math@towson.edu