schur functions are a basis for the ring of symmetric functions, one with many important algebraic and combinatorial properties. k-schur functions are a basis for a certain subring of that ring and are turning out to be just as interesting. many results involving schur functions have analogues involving k-schur functions. standard strong marked tableaux play a role for k-schur functions similar to the role standard young tableaux play for schur functions. i will discuss results and conjectures toward an analogue of the hook length formula. this is joint work with matjaz konvalinka.