Becoming Successful Problem Solvers gives teachers in grades 5-8 easy-to-use materials that allow them to incorporate some of the recommendations of NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards (1989) into their classrooms. Each set includes four videotaped episodes, each about twenty minutes in length, and a teacher's manual. Not only is the mathematical content contained in the videotaped episodes consistent with the NCTM's recommendations, the characters' modeling of problem-solving behavior is consistent with the exploring and reasoning behavior that students should exhibit while doing mathematics. The videotapes afford many opportunities to generate discussions about significant mathematics and problem-solving processes, including the false starts and problem-formulation activities that are portrayed so well.

The purpose of the materials is to assess and change students' beliefs and attitudes about problem solving. The content and format of the materials allow teachers easily to collect this information. Twice during each videotaped episode, students in the classroom are asked to respond to questions about the statements and methods that the characters use as they attempt to formulate and solve a problem. The information in the teacher's manual assists teachers in leading class discussions. Through these discussions, teachers can collect information about their own students' attitudes about problem solving and help their students develop a deeper understanding of effective problem solving behaviors.

The mathematical concepts and applications are usually presented informally to make them accessible to most middle school students. Content areas covered in Set 1 and Set 3 are geometry, probability, statistics, algebra, measurement, and numbers. The written materials also suggest ways to extend the problem solving initiated by the characters in the videotape. In this manner, students in the classroom can actually engage in problem solving, a crucial aspect of changing their beliefs and attitudes.

These modules are great supplementary materials that teachers should find useful for changing their middle school students' beliefs and attitudes about problem solving.

Linda Zech, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203

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