Middle school pre-service mathematics teachers' guidance for sixth grade students in problem solving process

Journal Title: European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education - Year 2018, Vol 0, Issue 0

Abstract

The mathematics of the middle school has an important place in developing of algebraic thinking. Middle grades correspond to transition from arithmetic to algebra. According to Thompson and Smith (2007), quantitative reasoning provides a smooth transition from arithmetic reasoning to algebraic reasoning as a glue. Sixth grade and verbal problems are important in developing quantitative reasoning. On the other hand, As Harel (2008) emphasized, the important thing in problem solving is the ways of thinking rather than answering the problems correctly in school mathematics. Therefore, developing thinking ways of students is one of the responsibilities of mathematics teachers. This responsibility can get more difficult for pre-algebra students like sixth grade students. In this study, it was aimed to investigate pre-service middle school mathematics teachers’ guidance for sixth grade students in problem solving process. This is a qualitatively designed study in which the data was collected through 10 pre-services teachers’ clinical interviews with sixth grade middle school students. Data was analysed qualitatively by using content analysis technique. It was found that pre-service middle school mathematics teachers focused on students’ getting the result rather than guiding their thinking ways. The abstract should be typed here (maximum 250 words).

Authors and Affiliations

Tangül Kabael| Elementary Mathematics Education, Anadolu University, Eskişehir , Turkey, For correspondence: tuygur@anadolu.edu.tr, Betül Yayan| Elementary Mathematics Education, Anadolu University, Eskişehir , Turkey

Keywords

Related Articles

Grade 11 students’ interconnected use of conceptual knowledge, procedural skills, and strategic competence in algebra: a mixed method study of error analysis

The purpose of this mixed?method study was to investigate grade 11 university/college stream mathematics students’ difficulties in applying conceptual knowledge, procedural skills, strategic competence, and algebraic thi...

An alternative triangle area strategy

We explore the mathematics engagement of a group ofmathematics coaches, working in k-12 mathematics education. The incenter of a triangle is used to derive an alternative formula for the area of a triangle inspired by Us...

What’s natural about nature? deceptive concepts in socio-scientific decision-making

The conflicts between nature and nurture are brought to the fore and challenges socio-scientific decision-making in science education. The multitude of meanings of these concepts and their roles in societal discourses ca...

Mathematics for language, language for mathematics

The author discusses the balance and mutual influence of the language of instruction and mathematics in the context of CLIL, Content and Language Integrated Learning. Different aspects of the relationship of language and...

Why not start with quarks? Teachers investigate a learning unit on the subatomic structure of matter with 12-year-olds

This paper describes the second in a series of studies exploring the acceptance of the subatomic structure of matter by 12-year-olds. The studies focus on a novel learning unit introducing an atomic model from electrons...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP8161
  • DOI -
  • Views 385
  • Downloads 23

How To Cite

Tangül Kabael, Betül Yayan (2018). Middle school pre-service mathematics teachers' guidance for sixth grade students in problem solving process. European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 0(0), 0-0. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-8161