Spotlight on the Principles/Standards: Problem Solving in the Middle Grades

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-108
Author(s):  
Carol E. Malloy ◽  
D. Bruce Guild
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematical Knowledge ◽  
Middle Grades ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Measurement Algebra ◽  
Principles And Standards ◽  
Mathematical Relationships

IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR middle-grades students to experience problem solving in the mathematics curriculum? Do you want the curriculum to capture the excitement of geometry and measurement, algebra, statistics, and number relationships? Do you want it to help students understand and build new mathematical knowledge and explore new mathematical relationships? Do you want the curriculum to be filled with opportunities for students to ponder, create, and critique arguments about mathematics? If this is your vision for your students, then you should be pleased with, and excited by, the Problem Solving Standard in Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 2000).

Writing About the Problem Solving Process to Improve Problem Solving Performance

2003 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth M. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematical Knowledge ◽  
Mathematical Problem ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Mathematical Problem Solving ◽  
National Council ◽  
Instructional Programs ◽  
Principles And Standards ◽  
Problem Solving Process ◽  
Problem Solvers

Problem solving is generally recognized as one of the most important components of mathematics. In Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics emphasized that instructional programs should enable all students in all grades to “build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving, solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts, apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve problems, and monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving” (NCTM 2000, p. 52). But how do students become competent and confident mathematical problem solvers?

Proportional Reasoning: Lessons from Research in Data and Chance

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-109
Author(s):  
Jane Watson ◽  
J. Shaughnessy
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
Proportional Reasoning ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
School Level ◽  
Principles And Standards ◽  
Middle School Level

PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL Mathematics (NCTM 2000) places proportionality among the major concepts connecting different topics in the mathematics curriculum at the middle school level (p. 217). What concerns us about many of the problems presented to students, however, is that they are often posed purely as a ratio or proportion from the start. Often the statement of a problem is a giveaway that a proportion is involved. For example, the question “If 15 students out of 20 get a problem correct, how many students in a class of 28 would we expect to get the problem correct?” does not tap the depth of proportional reasoning that is required for meaningful problem solving.

Problem Solving in the Singapore School Mathematics Curriculum

2019 ◽  
pp. 141-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tin Lam Toh ◽  
Chun Ming Eric Chan ◽  
Eng Guan Tay ◽  
Yew Hoong Leong ◽  
Khiok Seng Quek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
School Mathematics Curriculum

One point of view: Stop the Bandwagon I Want Off

1981 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Jeremy Kilpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
School Mathematics

The 1980s, so we are told, are to be the decade of “problem solving.” Ready or not, we are apparently destined to have problem solving as the “focus” of school mathematics for the next ten years or so. Toward this goal, the NCTM's An Agenda for Action recommends the organization of the mathematics curriculum around problem solving. How can one argue with such a sensible agenda?

The fourth operation is not fundamental—fractional numbers and problem solving

1975 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-32
Author(s):  
Marilyn J. Zweng
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Elementary School Mathematics ◽  
Fractional Numbers ◽  
School Mathematics Curriculum

Few topics in the elementary school mathematics curriculum are a greater waste of time than division of fractional numbers. It is seldom used to solve problems, and those problems which children are taught to solve by division of fractional numbers are dealt with just as adequately by resorting to multiplication.

Activities: Extending Problem-Solving Skills

1985 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-44
Author(s):  
Robert A. Laing
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Technological Society ◽  
K 12

Introduction: Recognizing that the mathematics curriculum in grades K-12 must include more than the concepts and skills of mathematics to prepare students to be productive and contributing members of a rapidly changing technological society, the Agenda for Action (NCTM 1980, 3, 4) recommends that problem solving be the focus of school mathematics in the 1980s.

Soundoff: Geometry: A Remedy for the Malaise of Middle School Mathematics

1989 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 678-680
Author(s):  
Alfred S. Posamentier
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle Grades ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
Middle School Mathematics ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
School Level ◽  
Mathematics Educators ◽  
Arithmetic Teaching ◽  
Middle School Level

Many mathematics educators perceive that the weakest part of the precollege mathematics curriculum is at the middle school level, more specifically, the years immediately preceding the study of algebra. It seems that in the middle grades the development of mathematics has been put into a “holding pattern.” A quick glance at the curriculum for seventh and eighth grades—or in some cases sixth and seventh gradesshows that much arithmetic is still being taught. Haven't we, or shouldn't we have, completed teaching arithmetic in the previous five or six years? Indeed, how much arithmetic teaching do we need to do in an age of ever-improving calculators (Heid 1988)? Very often students greet a unit in these grades with the now famous comment, “Oh, I had this already.” “Sure,” thinks the teacher, “you may have had it, but have you learned it?” It is clear to many educators that these middle grades are key to turning a student “on” to or “off” from mathematics.

Welcome to Our Focus Issue on Problem Solving

2003 ◽  
Vol 96 (8) ◽  
pp. 529
Keyword(s):  
Mathematics Education ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Word Problems ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
National Council ◽  
Seminal Work ◽  
Strong Case ◽  
School Mathematics Curriculum

THE CALL FOR THIS FOCUS ISSUE BEGAN BY reminding readers that in 1980, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics made a strong case for including problem solving in the mathematics curriculum. Problem solving was not a new topic at that time—after all, George Pólya published his seminal work, How to Solve It, in 1945. However, the 1980 Agenda for Action publication marked the beginning of a period in mathematics education when the processes of problem solving received specific attention in the school mathematics curriculum. Problem solving became much more than solving word problems.

Developing Algebraic Thinking through Pattern Exploration

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 428-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Lee ◽  
Viktor Freiman
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle Grades ◽  
Algebraic Thinking ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Algebraic Language ◽  
Principles And Standards ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Repeating Patterns

Pattern exploration is A pivotal activity in all mathematics, indeed in all the scientific disciplines. Children who are attempting to express perceived patterns mathematically are in an excellent position to learn algebraic language and engage in algebraic activity. Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 2000) acknowledges the relationship of pattern exploration and algebraic thinking by placing pattern work within the Algebra strand. Yet one can undertake considerable pattern exploration without engaging students in any algebraic thinking whatsoever and teachers may, themselves, be unclear about how patterns can be used to further algebraic thinking. Work with repeating patterns in the early grades, or teaching patterns as a “topic” in the middle grades, may not foster the development of algebraic thinking in students. In this article, we will address this question: How can teachers exploit pattern work to further algebraic thinking and introduce the formal study of algebra in middle school?

Focused Strategies for Middle-Grades Mathematics Vocabulary Development

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 200-207
Author(s):  
Rheta N. Rubenstein
Keyword(s):  
Mathematics Education ◽  
Middle Grades ◽  
Mathematical Thinking ◽  
Vocabulary Development ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
One Dimension ◽  
Mathematical Language ◽  
Mathematics Vocabulary ◽  
Principles And Standards

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics reminds us that communication is central to a broad range of goals in mathematics education (NCTM 2000). These goals include students' being able to (1) organize and consolidate mathematical thinking; (2) communicate coherently with teachers, peers, and others; (3) analyze and evaluate others' strategies; and (4) use language to express mathematics precisely. One part of communication is acquiring mathematical language and using it fluently. This article addresses learning vocabulary as one dimension of mathematics communication.

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