Building The Foundation Whole Numbers In The Primary Grades

This twenty-third ICMI Study addresses for the first time mathematics teaching and learning in the primary school (and pre-school) setting, while also taking international perspectives, socio-cultural diversity and institutional constraints into account. One of the main challenges of designing the first ICMI primary school study of this kind is the complex nature of mathematics at the early level. Accordingly, a focus area that is central to the discussion was chosen, together with a number of related questions. The broad area of Whole Number Arithmetic (WNA), including operations and relations and arithmetic word problems, forms the core content of all primary mathematics curricula. The study of this core content area is often regarded as foundational for later mathematics learning. However, the principles and main goals of instruction on the foundational concepts and skills in WNA are far from universally agreed upon, and practice varies substantially from country to country. As such, this study presents a meta-level analysis and synthesis of what is currently known about WNA, providing a useful base from which to gauge gaps and shortcomings, as well as an opportunity to learn from the practices of different countries and contexts.

This twenty-third ICMI Study addresses for the first time mathematics teaching and learning in the primary school (and pre-school) setting, while also taking international perspectives, socio-cultural diversity and institutional constraints into account. One of the main challenges of designing the first ICMI primary school study of this kind is the complex nature of mathematics at the early level. Accordingly, a focus area that is central to the discussion was chosen, together with a number of related questions. The broad area of Whole Number Arithmetic (WNA), including operations and relations and arithmetic word problems, forms the core content of all primary mathematics curricula. The study of this core content area is often regarded as foundational for later mathematics learning. However, the principles and main goals of instruction on the foundational concepts and skills in WNA are far from universally agreed upon, and practice varies substantially from country to country. As such, this study presents a meta-level analysis and synthesis of what is currently known about WNA, providing a useful base from which to gauge gaps and shortcomings, as well as an opportunity to learn from the practices of different countries and contexts.

Numbers are the backbones of mathematics. From 1 to infinity, numbers accompany and underlie the learning of mathematics and research. While perceived as familiar and understood, numbers present fascinating and often mysterious patterns, relationships and pedagogical issues. The Learning and Teaching of Number explores how mathematics education research has addressed issues related to the structure of numbers and number operations and provides a classroom context. It invites readers to explore less-travelled paths through a well-trodden terrain of number. This fascinating book combines mathematical content with pedagogical ideas and research results. Focusing on number, the book illustrates central ideas related to numbers via a variety of tasks at different levels of complexity. The Learning and Teaching of Number will allow the reader to examine and develop personal understanding of number sets and the relationships among them; enhance personal understanding of familiar topics associated with number operations; engage in a variety of tasks and strengthen personal problem-solving skills; enrich their repertoire of mathematical tasks and pedagogical actions; and consider research ideas and results related to teaching numbers, number operations and number relationships. This is a valuable resource for teacher education courses, graduate programs in mathematics education and professional development programs. Teacher trainers and maths teachers will find their personal understanding of numbers and relationships enriched and will draw connections between research and classroom pedagogy which will extend and enhance their teaching.

This Open Access volume by the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) is an outcome of the ICMI Study 24 and gives a status-quo of school mathematics reform around the world and what we can learn from this movement. Each theme and section of the book offers descriptions and analyses of multiple case studies in different countries and contexts, along with opportunities to compare, contrast and learn from these diverse experiences. The volume provides a synthesis and meta-analysis of the different historical, geographical and global aspects of school mathematics reforms and explores in which way curricula are elaborated, proposed, changed, and reorganized. It offers a more informed and comprehensive analysis of the roles of different actors and of the many aspects influencing and shaping mathematics curriculum reforms that are taking or have taken place. It also explores the possibilities and means to tackle a curricular reform in the current scenario we live in and how to unfold future developments. This book will be of interest to practitioners and scholars with an interest in school mathematics curriculum reforms. It will also be a useful resource to those involved in school mathematics curriculum reform initiatives by providing current information about the curriculum changes that are taking place in respect of content, teacher education, educational materials, and a range of implementation challenges across diverse contexts.

The third edition of this significant and groundbreaking book summarizes current research into how young children learn mathematics and how best to develop foundational knowledge to realize more effective teaching. Using straightforward, practical language, early math experts Douglas Clements and Julie Sarama show how learning trajectories help teachers understand children’s level of mathematical understanding and lead to better teaching. By focusing on the inherent delight and curiosity behind young children’s mathematical reasoning, learning trajectories ultimately make teaching more joyous: helping teachers understand the varying levels of knowledge exhibited by individual students, it allows them to better meet the learning needs of all children. This thoroughly revised and contemporary third edition of Learning and Teaching Early Math remains the definitive, research-based resource to help teachers understand the learning trajectories of early mathematics and become confident, credible professionals. The new edition draws on numerous new research studies, offers expanded international examples, and includes updated illustrations throughout. This new edition is closely linked with Learning and Teaching with Learning Trajectories–[LT]2–an open-access, web-based tool for early childhood educators to learn about how children think and learn about mathematics. Head to LearningTrajectories.org for ongoing updates, interactive games, and practical tools that support classroom learning.

The purpose of this book is to collect, organize and disseminate collective wisdom with respect to designing, conducting, and publishing quality research in mathematics education. This wisdom will be gleaned from among those who, over the past several decades, have been instrumental in guiding the field in the pursuit of excellence in mathematics education research—insightful editors, educative reviewers, prolific writers, and caring mentors. Each chapter is written to the novice researcher with the intent of aiding them in avoiding common pitfalls, navigating difficult intellectual terrain, and understanding that they are not alone in experiencing rejection, frustration, confusion, and doubt. This book differs from existing literature in the sense that it is written about the enterprise of designing, conducting and publishing research in mathematics education as opposed to being reports of the results of such work. It also differs in the sense that it is written with the intent to mentor the rising generation as opposed to capture the state of the field (as would happen in a handbook, for example). It is written for the express purpose of helping the field work collectively to aid in the often isolated enterprise of mentoring new researchers. The primary audience is a potentially wide one: graduate students, novice researchers, graduate faculty, advisors, and mentors – or anyone seeking to improve their own abilities to design, conduct, and publish quality research in mathematics education.

This book gives insights in the vivid research area of early mathematics learning. The collection of selected chapters mirrors the research topics presented at the fourth POEM conference in May 2018. Thematically, the volume reflects the importance of this evolving area of research, which has begun to attract attention in the spheres of education and public policy due to increased interest in early years learning. The research foci of the chapters comprise children’s mathematical reasoning, early years mathematics teaching, and the role of parents for children’s mathematical development. The 2018 conference included a wider range of researchers than previous years.

The book provides an entry point for graduate students and other scholars interested in using the constructs of Piaget’s genetic epistemology in mathematics education research. Constructs comprising genetic epistemology form the basis for some of the most well-developed theoretical frameworks available for characterizing learning, particularly in mathematics. The depth and complexity of Piaget’s work can make it challenging to find adequate entry points for learners, not least because it requires a reorientation regarding the nature of mathematical knowledge itself. This volume gathers leading scholars to help address that challenge. The main section of the book presents key Piagetian constructs for mathematics education research such as schemes and operations, figurative and operative thought, images and meanings, and decentering. The chapters that discuss these constructs include examples from research and address how these constructs can be used in research. There are two chapters on various types of reflective abstraction, because this construct is Piaget’s primary tool for characterizing the advancement of knowledge. The later sections of the book contain commentaries reflecting on the contributions of the body of theory developed in the first section. They connect genetic epistemology to current research domains such as equity and the latest in educational psychology. Finally, the book closes with short chapters portraying how scholars are using these tools in specific arenas of mathematics education research, including in special education, early childhood education, and statistics education.