The Importance of Equal Sign Understanding in the Middle Grades

Autor/inn/en	Knuth, Eric J.; Alibali, Martha W.; Hattikudur, Shanta; McNeil, Nicole M.; Stephens, Ana C.
Titel	The Importance of Equal Sign Understanding in the Middle Grades
Quelle	In: Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 13 (2008) 9, S.514-519 (6 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1072-0839
Schlagwörter	Equations (Mathematics); Algebra; Middle School Students; Mathematics Instruction; Mathematical Concepts; Secondary School Mathematics; Comprehension; Problem Solving; Symbols (Mathematics) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Equations; Mathematics; Gleichungslehre; Middle school; Middle schools; Student; Students; Mittelschule; Mittelstufenschule; Schüler; Schülerin; Mathematics lessons; Mathematikunterricht; Verstehen; Verständnis; Problemlösen
Abstract	The equal sign is perhaps the most prevalent symbol in school mathematics, and developing an understanding of it has typically been considered mathematically straightforward. In fact, after its initial introduction during students' early elementary school education, little, if any instructional time is explicitly spent on the concept in the later grades. Yet research suggests that many students at all grade levels have not developed adequate understandings of the meaning of the equal sign. Such findings are troubling with respect to students' preparation for algebra, especially given Carpenter, Franke, and Levi's (2003) contention that a "limited conception of what the equal sign means is one of the major stumbling blocks in learning algebra. Virtually all manipulations on equations require understanding that the equal sign represents a relation." This article describes middle school students' understanding of the equal sign and the relationship between their understanding and performance when solving algebraic equations. (Contains 6 figures and 1 table.) (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1502. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-3702; Fax: 703-476-2970; e-mail: orders@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10