Writing Question – Description
Part 1
The standard American algorithms for solving multi-digit addition, subtraction multiplication, and division problems have been so much at the center of our mathematics teaching and learning, that it can be hard to get a perspective on them as human cultural inventions. We tend to see them as “just the way you do things.”
In the following article, Randy Phillip helps us to locate the American algorithms in the world’s mathematics.
Read the article, post a response to the questions below and comment on your peers’ responses.
Task 1: Read
As you read the following article, attend to what most surprises or interests you about what Phillip is saying.
Read Phillip, R.A. (1996). Multicultural mathematics and alternative algorithms. Teaching Children Mathematics, November 1996, pp. 128-133.
Actions
Task 2: Post
Post to the discussion board the two ideas that surprised or interested you the most in this article. Why?
Part 2
1) Read the following segment of a chapter from a book on connecting early mathematics to algebraic ideas.
Russel, S.J., Schifter. D, Bastable, V. (2011). Chapter 5. Developing mathematical arguments: Representation-based proof, pp.52-61 from Connecting arithmetic to algebra, Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Actions
(Links to an external site.)
2) After you have read, respond in writing to the following prompts. (Approx. ½ page in total; 1.5 spacing)
The first section of this chapter describes four approaches to justifying a general claim. What are they?
Reflect on your past work as a math learner? Which of these approaches did you experience? Which are new for you to consider?
Are you surprised to see young children trying to justify these kinds of generalizations? How might it help them as math learners?
The chapter continues with a description of the term representation-based proof. For each classroom example (Ms. Miller, Ms. Hazelton & Ms. Kaye), describe how the students’ arguments fit the three criteria described. Not any questions that come up for you about interpreting these criteria.
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