Based on a study with six elementary school teachers and 115 students in grades 3, 4, and 5, this article discusses ways that teachers might support an understanding of variable as students explore pattern-finding activities. The practices emerged from interviews with teachers and a yearlong observation of teaching algebraic thinking during an…

Developing deep knowledge and understanding of mathematics is a lifelong process, and building the foundation for teachers' development must begin in preservice preparation and continue throughout one's professional life. While teaching mathematics content courses and methods courses, the authors have found that preservice elementary school…

Introducing an approach to detailed assessment involving videotaping clinical interviews, the authors highlight strengths of this approach for understanding children's thinking, informing instruction, and furthering professional learning. (Contains 4 figures.)

Interviews with fourth, fifth, and sixth graders found that they thought about the concept of average as mode, median, and/or a procedure. Presents approaches to develop the concept of average. (MKR)