Take Time for Action: From Kinesthetic Movement to Algebraic Functions

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 388-391
Author(s):  
Mary G. Goral

Are students able to work through a series of geometric spatial activities, discover a pattern, and find an algebraic function? Can they move from using spatial intelligence to number sense to algebraic reasoning? Are they able to connect geometric thinking and algebra, physical models, and numeric relationships? Friel, Rachlin, and Doyle (2001) state, “Explorations that develop from problems that can be solved by using tables, graphs, verbal descriptions, concrete or pictorial representations or algebraic symbols offer opportunities for students to build their understandings of mathematical functions” (p. v). Further, combining physical spatial activities with algebraic reasoning can better engage beginning algebra students in the task at hand. According to Jensen (2001), the kinesthetic arts can provide a significant vehicle that can enhance content-area learning.

2011 ◽  
Vol 104 (7) ◽  
pp. 526-530
Author(s):  
Holly S. Zullo

Card tricks based on mathematical principles can be a great way to get students interested in exploring some important mathematical ideas. Bonomo (2008) describes several variations of a card trick that rely on nested floor functions, but these generally go beyond the reach of beginning algebra students. However, a simple spreadsheet implementation shows students why the card trick works and allows them to explore several variations. As an added bonus, students are introduced to composite functions, the floor function, and iteration, and they learn how to use formulas and the INT function in Microsoft Excel. The depth of the mathematical explanation can be varied according to students' background.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 212-221
Author(s):  
F. D. Rivera ◽  
Joanne Rossi Becker

Findings, insights, and issues drawn from a three-year study on patterns are intended to help teach prealgebra and algebra.


2015 ◽  
Vol 108 (9) ◽  
pp. 656-661
Author(s):  
Jennifer Earles Szydlik

Three topics worthy of classroom discussions help beginning algebra students create meaning and build understanding as a community.


1983 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 474-479
Author(s):  
Sigrid Wagner

We all know some of the problems that beginning algebra students have in working with literal symbols, or variables. Two articles in this journal (Herscovics and Kieran 1980; Rosnick 1981) have discussed certain difficulties related to variables and have offered suggestions for overcoming them.


2003 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-96
Author(s):  
Marjorie L. Lewkowicz

IN AN EFFORT TO HELP MY BEGINNING ALGEBRA STUDENTS further develop their conceptual understanding of variables, the language of algebra, and other important topics,


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (esp.) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Rosa Di Bernardo ◽  
Gemma Carotenuto ◽  
Maria Mellone ◽  
Miguel Ribeiro

 Abstract: Starting from the assumption that very young children exhibit some naive forms of algebraic skills, in this paper we discuss some of our work aimed at inquiry, and in the same time develop, prospective primary teachers’ knowledge involved and required in recognize and interpret pupils’ early forms of algebraic thinking. The research dimension is perceived intertwined with teacher education and practice and thus, the tasks we develop for such work focus on early years’ prospective teachers’ mathematical knowledge specifically related with the work of teaching Early Algebra. Thus, our focus of attention concerns their knowledge that would sustain the work on supporting the development of pupils’ knowledge and reasoning toward more refined algebraic skills. We present promising preliminary results from an experiment conducted on 60 prospective Italian teachers’, which paves the way for further research about the expected early years teachers’ knowledge on Early Algebra and Algebra and even more refined didactic methods aimed at developing it.Keywords: Teachers’ knowledge. Algebraic Reasoning. Interpretative knowledge. Early years.CONHECIMENTO INTERPRETATIVO DE FUTUROS PROFESSORES DA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL E ANOS INICIAIS NO ÂMBITO DO PENSAMENTO ALGÉBRICO Resumo: Considerando que as crianças desde cedo possuem algumas capacidades, competências e conhecimentos algébricos, ainda que intuitivos, neste artigo discutimos uma parte de nosso trabalho que tem por objetivo acessar e desenvolver o conhecimento de futuros professores envolvido e requerido em reconhecer e interpretar produções de alunos no âmbito do Pensamento Algébrico. Pesquisa, formação e prática são consideradas de forma indissociada e, assim, as tarefas que conceitualizamos para desenvolver esse trabalho focam-se no conhecimento matemático de futuros professores especificamente relacionado com as tarefas de ensinar Pensamento Algébrico. Assim, o nosso foco de atenção refere-se, especificamente, ao conhecimento de futuros professores que contribua para o desenvolvimento do conhecimento e raciocínio dos alunos no sentido de refinar as suas competências algébricas. Apresentamos alguns resultados preliminares a partir da análise de uma tarefa para a formação de professores implementada em Itália a 60 futuros professores e que revelam alguns aspetos centrais do conhecimento do professor relativamente ao Pensamento Algébrico e à Álgebra e indicam necessidades de pesquisa que contribua para um desenvolvimento de tal conhecimento.Palavras-chave: Conhecimento do professor. Pensamento Algébrico. Conhecimento Interpretativo. Anos Iniciais. CONOCIMIENTO INTERPRETATIVO DE FUTUROS PROFESSORES DE INFANTIL E PRIMÁRIA EN EL CONTEXTO DEL PENSAMIENTO ALGEBRAICOResumen: Considerando que los niños desde edad temprana poseen algunas capacidades, competencias y conocimientos algebraicos, aunque intuitivos, en este artículo discutimos una parte de nuestro trabajo que tiene por objetivo acceder y desarrollar el conocimiento de futuros profesores involucrado y requerido en reconocer e interpretar producciones de alumnos en el ámbito del Pensamiento Algebraico. Investigación, formación y práctica se consideran de forma indisociada y así, las tareas que conceptualizamos para desarrollar ese trabajo se enfocan en el conocimiento matemático de futuros profesores específicamente relacionado con las tareas de enseñar Pensamiento Algebraico. Nuestro foco de atención se refiere específicamente al conocimiento de futuros profesores que contribuya al desarrollo del conocimiento y raciocinio de los alumnos en y para refinar sus competencias algebraicas. Presentamos algunos resultados preliminares a partir del análisis de una tarea para la formación de profesores implementada en Italia a 60 futuros profesores y que revelan algunos aspectos centrales del conocimiento del profesor respecto al Pensamiento Algebraico y al Álgebra e indican algunas necesidades de investigación que contribuya a un desarrollo de dicho conocimiento.Palabras claves: Conocimiento del profesor. Pensamiento Algebraico. Conocimiento Interpretativo. Educación Infantil e primaria 


1932 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-35
Author(s):  
L. Ashley Rich

The first-year course in algebra can be the most interesting subject in the curriculum. It would be if it were not devitalized by some of these logical minded college professors who write our texts. Any student sufficiently endowed with mental equipment to enable him to do successfully sixth grade arithmetic would encounter no difficulty in mastering most of the material in the first year algebra if it were properly presented. Yet the percentage failure of algebra students exceeds that for all other subjects in most high schools, and in addition to this it is the exceptional student who at the end of the course in June can demonstrate any true mathematical power. By mathematical power I mean ability to apply mathematical methods to new situations, possession of confidence in one's results, etc. By the following September nearly all the skills in manipulation and most of the problem work have apparently been forgotten.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Mara Otten ◽  
Marja van den Heuvel-Panhuizen ◽  
Michiel Veldhuis ◽  
Jan Boom ◽  
Aiso Heinze

The balance model is often used for teaching linear equation solving. Little research has investigated the influence of various representations of this model on students’ learning outcomes. In this quasi-experimental study, we examined the effects of two learning environments with balance models on primary school students’ reasoning related to solving linear equations. The sample comprised 212 fifth-graders. Students’ algebraic reasoning was measured four times over the school year; students received lessons in between two of these measurements. Students in Intervention Condition 1 were taught linear equation solving in a learning environment with only pictorial representations of the balance model, while students in Intervention Condition 2 were taught in a learning environment with both physical and pictorial representations of the balance model, which allowed students to manipulate the model. Multi-group latent variable growth curve modelling revealed a significant improvement in algebraic reasoning after students’ participation in either of the two intervention conditions, but no significant differences were found between intervention conditions. The findings suggest that the representation of the balance model did not differentially affect students’ reasoning. However, analyzing students’ reasoning qualitatively revealed that students who worked with the physical balance model more often used representations of the model or advanced algebraic strategies, suggesting that different representations of the balance model might play a different role in individual learning processes.


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