Algebraic Thinking: Conceptions of Elementary School Teachers

Authors

  • Ana Sofia Rodrigues Rézio Instituto Superior de Ciências Educativas de Odivelas, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15359/rep.9-1.6

Keywords:

elementary school, algebraic reasoning, algebrization of arithmetics, functional thinking, generalization

Abstract

Students’ algebraic reasoning, at the beginning of their schooling years, includes the development and promotion of functional thinking and the understanding of mathematical properties, which can be stimulated by solving problems. In the latest Portuguese Program for Mathematics Elementary Education, we do not see the topic Algebra in the first year of school although some other topics include objectives of algebraic nature. This fact showed the importance of research about the introduction of concepts and development of algebraic skills by elementary school teachers. We investigated the concept of algebraic thinking and how it has been addressed, by interviewing 50 teachers from Portugal. The results showed that the respondents agree with algebraic experiences in the early years of school; however, the data showed a considerable distance when compared to the concept of “algebraic reasoning” adopted by the current scientific community have of algebraic reasoning. With regard to activities that contribute to its promotion, problem solving was considered to play an important role in the development of algebraic skills as well as its representation and generalization.

Author Biography

Ana Sofia Rodrigues Rézio, Instituto Superior de Ciências Educativas de Odivelas

Ana Sofia Rézio is a researcher of the CeiED at the Education Institute of the Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies, Portugal. She has published several papers in the area of Mathematics Education. She is a Maths teacher at school D.Pedro IV, Sintra. Master Degree in Mathematics (Numerical Analysis and Computational Mathematics), at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (2007). Major Degree in Mathematics Education at the Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies, Lisbon (2004). Major Degree in Mathematics (Numerical Analysis and Computational Mathematics), at the Technical Superior Institute, Technical University of Lisbon (1996).

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Published

2014-07-07

How to Cite

Rodrigues Rézio, A. S. (2014). Algebraic Thinking: Conceptions of Elementary School Teachers. Ensayos Pedagógicos Journal, 9(1), 121-135. https://doi.org/10.15359/rep.9-1.6

Issue

Section

Academic Articles

How to Cite

Rodrigues Rézio, A. S. (2014). Algebraic Thinking: Conceptions of Elementary School Teachers. Ensayos Pedagógicos Journal, 9(1), 121-135. https://doi.org/10.15359/rep.9-1.6

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