Foundations of Algebra in the Elementary and Middle Grades: Supporting Students to Make, Represent and Justify General Claims about Operations

Terc Inc, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

This project develops images, extended examples, and principles that illustrate how the articulation, representation and justification of general claims about operations evolve in the elementary grades and how this work supports the transition from arithmetic to algebra in the middle grades. A Sourcebook developed by staff and teacher-writers provides an account of this work across the school year in grades 1-6 and commentaries that help teachers consider the underlying pedagogical and mathematical aspects of the work. An online course uses the Sourcebook as a text to enegage teachers in implementing these ideas in their instruction.