Developing Essential Understanding of Algebraic Thinking for Teaching Mathematics in Grades 3-5

Author: Maria Blanton Brand: Brand: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Features: Used Book in Good Condition ISBN: 0873536681 Number Of Pages: 102 Publisher: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Details: Like algebra at any level, early algebra is a way to explore, analyze, represent, and generalize mathematical ideas and relationships. This book shows that children can and do engage in generalizing about numbers and operations as their mathematical experiences expand. The authors identify and examine five big ideas and associated essential understandings for developing algebraic thinking in grades 3 5. The big ideas relate to the fundamental properties of number and operations, the use of the equals sign to represent equivalence, variables as efficient tools for representing mathematical ideas, quantitative reasoning as a way to understand mathematical relationships, and functional thinking to generalize relationships between covarying quantities. The book examines c