Frustration with Understanding Variables Is Natural

Autor/inn/en	Moss, Diana L.; Czocher, Jennifer A.; Lamberg, Teruni
Titel	Frustration with Understanding Variables Is Natural
Quelle	In: Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 24 (2018) 1, S.10-17 (8 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1072-0839
Schlagwörter	Arithmetic; Mathematics Instruction; Mathematical Formulas; Algebra; Equations (Mathematics); Grade 6; Symbols (Mathematics); Middle School Students; Misconceptions + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Addition; Arithmetik; Arithmetikunterricht; Rechnen; Mathematics lessons; Mathematikunterricht; Mathematische Formel; Equations; Mathematics; Gleichungslehre; School year 06; 6. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 06; Middle school; Middle schools; Student; Students; Mittelschule; Mittelstufenschule; Schüler; Schülerin; Missverständnis
Abstract	Why is the use of letters in algebraic expressions and equations--variables--the source of such uncertainty for students and teachers? The authors studied a sixth-grade classroom and observed that students hold many misconceptions about variables. Some students hold an algebraic view of the equal sign. For them, it indicates an equation and signals them to solve for an unknown variable. Others view it only as a signal to compute. As the authors battled their own frustrations with students' misconceptions about variables, they discovered that their meanings for variables could be further sorted into groups and that those meanings changed over time. They also found that certain problem contexts and teacher questions could help shift students' meanings of variable. In this article, the authors share their findings and some productive ways to work with students' natural ways of thinking. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-9840; Fax: 703-476-2570; e-mail: NCTM@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/mathematics-teaching-in-the-middle-school/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01