Browsing by Author "Andrews, Heather J."
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemOpen AccessHow Children Signal That They Are Making Mathematical Connections(2014-04-23) Andrews, Heather J.; Towers, JoThis study examines how children signal that they are experiencing the interconnectedness of mathematics while working on rich tasks. Based on guidelines recommended by the NCTM (2000), I define the “interconnectedness of mathematics” as how mathematical concepts build on one another; are connected to, and can be used with, other mathematical ideas; and apply in contexts outside of mathematics. A case study of two groups of three, grade-four students is described based on qualitative data from video recorded problem-solving sessions. Three themes emerged from the data gathered. The ways in which children signaled they were making mathematical connections included: 1) using known facts to solve new problems; 2) identifying appropriate strategies to solve a mathematics problem; and 3) making mathematical generalizations. I conclude by discussing the subtlety of some of the signals described in my themes and the implications of such subtle comments including:1) situation awareness; 2) time; and 3) assessment.