Teaching And Learning Proof Across The Grades

A Co-Publication of Routledge for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) In recent years there has been increased interest in the nature and role of proof in mathematics education; with many mathematics educators advocating that proof should be a central part of the mathematics education of students at all grade levels. This important new collection provides that much-needed forum for mathematics educators to articulate a connected K-16 "story" of proof. Such a story includes understanding how the forms of proof, including the nature of argumentation and justification as well as what counts as proof, evolve chronologically and cognitively and how curricula and instruction can support the development of students’ understanding of proof. Collectively these essays inform educators and researchers at different grade levels about the teaching and learning of proof at each level and, thus, help advance the design of further empirical and theoretical work in this area. By building and extending on existing research and by allowing a variety of voices from the field to be heard, Teaching and Learning Proof Across the Grades not only highlights the main ideas that have recently emerged on proof research, but also defines an agenda for future study.

A Co-Publication of Routledge for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) In recent years there has been increased interest in the nature and role of proof in mathematics education; with many mathematics educators advocating that proof should be a central part of the mathematics education of students at all grade levels. This important new collection provides that much-needed forum for mathematics educators to articulate a connected K-16 "story" of proof. Such a story includes understanding how the forms of proof, including the nature of argumentation and justification as well as what counts as proof, evolve chronologically and cognitively and how curricula and instruction can support the development of students’ understanding of proof. Collectively these essays inform educators and researchers at different grade levels about the teaching and learning of proof at each level and, thus, help advance the design of further empirical and theoretical work in this area. By building and extending on existing research and by allowing a variety of voices from the field to be heard, Teaching and Learning Proof Across the Grades not only highlights the main ideas that have recently emerged on proof research, but also defines an agenda for future study.

Research on teaching and learning proof and proving has expanded in recent decades. This reflects the growth of mathematics education research in general, but also an increased emphasis on proof in mathematics education.

This book highlights new developments in the teaching and learning of algebraic thinking with 5- to 12-year-olds. Based on empirical findings gathered in several countries on five continents, it provides a wealth of best practices for teaching early algebra. Building on the work of the ICME-13 (International Congress on Mathematical Education) Topic Study Group 10 on Early Algebra, well-known authors such as Luis Radford, John Mason, Maria Blanton, Deborah Schifter, and Max Stephens, as well as younger scholars from Asia, Europe, South Africa, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand, present novel theoretical perspectives and their latest findings. The book is divided into three parts that focus on (i) epistemological/mathematical aspects of algebraic thinking, (ii) learning, and (iii) teaching and teacher development. Some of the main threads running through the book are the various ways in which structures can express themselves in children’s developing algebraic thinking, the roles of generalization and natural language, and the emergence of symbolism. Presenting vital new data from international contexts, the book provides additional support for the position that essential ways of thinking algebraically need to be intentionally fostered in instruction from the earliest grades.

*THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AS OPEN ACCESS BOOK ON SPRINGERLINK* One of the most significant tasks facing mathematics educators is to understand the role of mathematical reasoning and proving in mathematics teaching, so that its presence in instruction can be enhanced. This challenge has been given even greater importance by the assignment to proof of a more prominent place in the mathematics curriculum at all levels. Along with this renewed emphasis, there has been an upsurge in research on the teaching and learning of proof at all grade levels, leading to a re-examination of the role of proof in the curriculum and of its relation to other forms of explanation, illustration and justification. This book, resulting from the 19th ICMI Study, brings together a variety of viewpoints on issues such as: The potential role of reasoning and proof in deepening mathematical understanding in the classroom as it does in mathematical practice. The developmental nature of mathematical reasoning and proof in teaching and learning from the earliest grades. The development of suitable curriculum materials and teacher education programs to support the teaching of proof and proving. The book considers proof and proving as complex but foundational in mathematics. Through the systematic examination of recent research this volume offers new ideas aimed at enhancing the place of proof and proving in our classrooms.

Although proving is core to mathematics as a sense-making activity, it currently has a marginal place in elementary classrooms internationally. Blending research with practical perspectives, this book addresses what it would take to elevate the place of proving at elementary school. The book uses classroom episodes from two countries to examine different kinds of proving tasks and the proving activity they can generate in the elementary classroom. It examines further the role of teachers in mediating the relationship between proving tasks and proving activity, including major mathematical and pedagogical issues that arise for teachers as they implement each kind of proving task. In addition to its contribution to research knowledge, the book has important implications for teaching, curricular resources, and teacher education.

This book aims to advance ongoing debates in the field of mathematics and mathematics education regarding conceptions of argumentation, justification, and proof and the consequences for research and practice when applying particular conceptions of each construct. Through analyses of classroom practice across grade levels using different lenses - particular conceptions of argumentation, justification, and proof - researchers consider the implications of how each conception shapes empirical outcomes. In each section, organized by grade band, authors adopt particular conceptions of argumentation, justification, and proof, and they analyse one data set from each perspective. In addition, each section includes a synthesis chapter from an expert in the field to bring to the fore potential implications, as well as new questions, raised by the analyses. Finally, a culminating section considers the use of each conception across grade bands and data sets.

This book presents current perspectives on theoretical and empirical issues related to the teaching and learning of geometry at secondary schools. It contains chapters contributing to three main areas. A first set of chapters examines mathematical, epistemological, and curricular perspectives. A second set of chapters presents studies on geometry instruction and teacher knowledge, and a third set of chapters offers studies on geometry thinking and learning. Specific research topics addressed also include teaching practice, learning trajectories, learning difficulties, technological resources, instructional design, assessments, textbook analyses, and teacher education in geometry. Geometry remains an essential and critical topic in school mathematics. As they learn geometry, students develop essential mathematical thinking and visualization skills and learn a language that helps them relate to and interact with the physical world. Geometry has traditionally been included as a subject of study in secondary mathematics curricula, but it has also featured as a resource in out-of-school problem solving, and has been connected to various human activities such as sports, games, and artwork. Furthermore, geometry often plays a role in teacher preparation, undergraduate mathematics, and at the workplace. New technologies, including dynamic geometry software, computer-assisted design software, and geometric positioning systems, have provided more resources for teachers to design environments and tasks in which students can learn and use geometry. In this context, research on the teaching and learning of geometry will continue to be a key element on the research agendas of mathematics educators, as researchers continue to look for ways to enhance student learning and to understand student thinking and teachers’ decision making.