Chewing Your Way to Understanding
Abstract
Helping upper elementary students to connect mathematical concepts to real world ideas is critical to their long-term conceptual understanding but can be challenging for teachers. This paper explains how 4th and 5th grade students were presented with a real-world mathematical task that was engaging, hands-on, and promoted reasoning and problem solving for students. The paper shares details of the activity, students’ discussions throughout the activity, including: their struggles, their reasoning, and their understanding resulting from their mathematical problem solving from the activity.
References
Common Core State Standards Initiative [CCSSI]. (2010). Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). Washington, DC: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/wp-content/uploads/Math_Standards.pdf
Lampert, M. (1990). When the problem is not the question and the solution is not the answer?: Mathematical knowing and teaching. American Educational Research Journal, 27(1), 29-63.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2000) Principles and standards for school mathematics. Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2014) Principles to Action: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All. Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Yackel, E., & Cobb, P. (1994). The development of young children’s understanding of mathematical argumentation. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans.
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