The purpose of this study is to examine how the categorization skills of the 6th grade students in fractions are distributed and to determine the classification errors made by the students, along with the procedural errors of the students in fractions. The descriptive survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study.…

This article models how to plan and facilitate implementing the same task in two sixth-grade classrooms with two different learning goals using the Five Practices structure.

The number line is a powerful tool for supporting students' understanding of fraction magnitude. Fractions are a critical component of mathematics instruction in the elementary and intermediate grades. More specifically, understanding fraction magnitude is central to mathematical development. Yet, fractions are challenging for many students,…

Researchers from multiple disciplines have found that fractions and algebra knowledge are linked. One major strand of research has identified children's "units coordination" structures as crucial for success with fractions and algebra via multiplicative reasoning, whereas a second strand of research points to "magnitude…

Researchers from multiple disciplines have found that fractions and algebra knowledge are linked. One major strand of research has identified children's "units coordination" structures as crucial for success with fractions and algebra via multiplicative reasoning, whereas a second strand of research points to "magnitude…

In prior work, we fit the mixture Rasch model to item responses from a fractions survey administered to a nationwide sample of middle grades mathematics teachers in the United States. The mixture Rasch model located teachers on a continuous, unidimensional scale and fit best with 3 latent classes. We used item response data to generate initial…

Introduction: In this paper, we present how seventh-grade students become aware of rational numbers during mathematics instruction through the social process of objectification when comparing two magnitudes. Methods: Theoretical elements of the Theory of Objectification and the Onto-Semiotic Approach to Mathematical Instruction and Cognition guide…

Math problem solving frequently involves choices among alternative strategies. Strategy choices, and effects of problem features on strategy choices, both vary among individuals. We propose that individual differences in strategy choices can be well characterized in terms of parametric variation in three types of influence: global bias, relevant…

Students entering sixth grade operate with three different multiplicative concepts that influence their reasoning in many domains important for middle school. For example, students who are operating with the second multiplicative concept (MC2 students) can begin to construct fractions as lengths but do not construct improper fractions as numbers.…

Procedural flexibility is an important skill for algebra. Although prior work has focused on measuring students' procedural flexibility using arithmetic problems, word problems may also capture students' flexibility because of their open-ended nature. To date, no published study has examined the use of word problems as another measure of…

In the present study, we illuminate students' multiplicative reasoning in the context of their units-coordinating activity. Of particular interest is to investigate students' use of three levels of units as given material for problem-solving activity, which we regard as supporting a more advanced level of multiplicative reasoning. Among 13 middle…

Providing multiple representations of mathematical ideas is an established strategy for supporting students in making connections between high-level conceptual ideas. One form of assistive technology that provides students with such representations is mathematics manipulatives. Virtual manipulatives, in particular, are backed by a growing research…

The algorithm for fraction multiplication is relatively easy to memorize and implement with accuracy. The simplicity of the algorithm masks the conceptual complexity involved in making sense of what fraction multiplication means in quantitative situations. One important interpretation of fraction multiplication involves fraction composition,…

As national and international assessments continue to show students struggle with rational concepts, which are seen as a major stumbling block for future career in STEM fields, we used the certainty of response index (CRI) as a method of analysis to investigate a group of 40 United Arab Emirates (UAE) seventh grade students' understanding of basic…

Researchers intending to identify the unique characteristics of dyscalculia rely upon the problematic and imprecise proxy of low mathematics achievement. Although detailed case studies of adults with dyscalculia have offered insight into its characteristics, we do not yet know if these characteristics are unique to dyscalculia and could be used to…