Our purpose is to bring together perspectives concerning the processing and use of statistical graphs to identify critical factors that appear to influence graph comprehension and to suggest instructional implications. After providing a synthesis of information about the nature and structure of graphs, we define graph comprehension. We consider 4 critical factors that appear to affect graph comprehension: the purposes for using graphs, task characteristics, discipline characteristics, and reader characteristics. A construct called graph sense is defined. A sequence for ordering the introduction of graphs is proposed. We conclude with a discussion of issues involved in making sense of quantitative information using graphs and ways instruction may be modified to promote such sense making.

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In this study, the schema-theoretic perspective of understanding general discourse was extended to include graph comprehension. Fourth graders (n=204) and seventh graders (n=185) were given a prior-knowledge inventory, a graph test, and the SRA Reading and Mathematics Achievement Tests during four testing sessions. The unique predictors of graph comprehension for Grade 4 included reading achievement, mathematics achievement, and prior knowledge of the topic, mathematical content, and form of the graph. The unique predictors for Grade 7 were the same except that prior knowledge of topic and graphical form were not included. The results suggest that children should be involved in graphing activities to build and expand relevant schemata needed for comprehension.

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This article describes an innovative capstone mathematics course that links college mathematics with school mathematics and pedagogy. It describes how college juniors in a secondary mathematics teacher preparation program engage in leadership experiences that enable them to learn mathematics for teaching while developing studentcentered pedagogical and assessment strategies. Examples show how students teach the class, complemented by excerpts from student journals containing students' perceptions of their learning. Preliminary research indicates the effectiveness of this course for preparing future mathematics teachers.