Making connections in mathematics

Math textbooks, which usually represent the mathematics curriculum, seem to be linked to the poor math performance of U.S. students. The major shortcomings of math textbooks are described in this article; then an alternative perspective is offered (the sameness analysis), along with research conducted with students with learning disabilities and at-risk students. The article then presents a detailed illustration of the sameness analysis--how to teach the addition-subtraction and multiplication-division relationships and their interrelationships in the context of solving word problems in mathematics.