The part-whole multiplicative relationship, as a topic that gives rise to the concept of fraction, is fundamental in education at the primary school level, and must therefore be included in training courses for prospective primary school teachers (PSTs). In this paper, we introduce a first study of a larger project, which aims to understand the…

Productive struggle leads to productive classrooms where students work on complex problems, are encouraged to take risks, can struggle and fail yet still feel good about working on hard problems (Boaler, 2016). Teachers can foster a classroom culture that values and promotes productive struggle by providing students with challenging tasks. These…

A deep understanding of fraction concepts and operations is necessary if pre-service teachers (PSTs) are to present the concepts in multiple forms to learners. Such an understanding needs to be grounded in rich conceptual knowledge. In the present study, we explore the development of this understanding by supporting a cohort of 103 PSTs, who had…

This article investigates the impact of research findings on the representation of proportional reasoning in two commonly used Swedish mathematics textbook series for grades 7-9. A research-based framework that identifies five learning goals for understanding of proportional reasoning was used to analyse the textbooks. The results brought to…

Lesson study cultivates teachers' capacity for formative assessment by placing student thinking front and center throughout. Lesson study is a form of professional development in which a team of teachers determines a mathematical focus, collaboratively studies student thinking about the topic, designs a lesson about this content, implements the…

Algorithms and representations have been an important aspect of the work of mathematics, especially for understanding concepts and communicating ideas about concepts and mathematical relationships. They have played a key role in various mathematics standards documents, including the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. However, there have…

Experts think in patterns and structures using the specific "language" of their domains. For mathematicians, these patterns and structures are represented by numbers, symbols and their relationships (Stokes, 2014a). To determine whether elementary students in the United States could learn to think in mathematical patterns to solve…

The aim of the study is to examine prospective mathematics teachers' pedagogical content knowledge in terms of knowledge of understanding students and knowledge of instructional strategies which are the subcomponents of pedagogical content knowledge. The participants of this research consist of 98 prospective teachers who are studying in two…

The transition from whole numbers to integers involves challenges for both students and teachers. Leadership in mathematics education calls for an ability to translate depth of understanding into effective teaching methods, and this landscape includes alternative treatments of familiar topics. Noting the multiple meanings associated with the…

This paper examines ten K-8 preservice teachers' visual representations of fraction operations using the four main pattern blocks. Data consist of figures made using the pattern blocks, drawn colored representations, and detailed written comments and algebraic formalism. The theoretical framework is drawn from representational theories and…

The data used for the qualitative analysis reported here were generated as part of a larger study to understand and characterize teacher practice related to engaging students in algorithmic thinking associated with the fraction operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. This paper presents ways in which teachers used…

Outlines a pattern for multiplication of fractions which facilitates the solution of a large class of problems. Beginning with the rate pair motion, a sequence of interrelated ideas are suggested that should help develop ability in problem solving in both relatively common and in more technical situations. (BR)

This is one of a series of units intended for both preservice and inservice elementary school teachers to satisfy a need for materials on "new mathematics" programs which (1) are readable on a self basis or with minimal instruction, (2) show the pedagogical objectives and uses of such mathematical structural ideas as the field axioms,…

Mathematics and art are often considered opposites in the traditional curriculum. In this project with fourth graders, mathematics and art provided a springboard for using fractions, in particular, the multiplication of fractions, using Chinese kites. The project began with a discussion of, "What does an artist really do in a mathematics…

The purpose of this curriculum guide is to assist Training Specialists to teach Adult Basic Education/General Education Development (ABE/GED) students intermediate skills in reading, English, and mathematics. The guide begins with an introduction (purpose, overview, adult learner characteristics, teacher type), curriculum policies, curriculum…