Reading mathematics picture books to children increases interest in mathematics, strengthens vocabulary, and can improve achievement.

Several years ago. if a computer was available in a chool district. it was located at the high school—only to be used by students taking upperlevel mathematics courses. With advances in technology, the microcomputer i now affordable to most school systems. The added status of having microcomputers at the elementary level has led many administrators to purchase such unit for their schools. What better way to impres the voting public!

The goal of those who support NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989) is to develop the mathematical power of all students. To achieve this goal, teachers in all mathematics classrooms will need materials and professional support to maintain their commitment to the task and their proficiency in accomplishing it. “Teachers are key figure in changing the ways in which mathematics is taught and learned in schools. Such changes require that teachers have long-term support and adequate resources” (NCTM 1991, 2). This focus issue contains a variety of ideas to support classroom teachers as they begin the difficult job of planning for instruction in mathematics that will help all students achieve mathematical power.