• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.167-188
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• 2015

Formula for the area of a trapezoid is an educational material that can handle algebraic and geometric perspectives simultaneously. In this note, we will make up the expression equivalent algebraically to the formula for the area of a trapezoid, and deal with the conversion of a geometric point of view, in algebraic terms of translating and interpreting the expression geometrically. As a result, the geometric conversion model, the first algebraic model, the second algebraic model are obtained. Therefore, this problem is a good material to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the algebraic and geometric perspectives and to improve the mathematical insight through complementary activity. In addition, these activities can be used as material for enrichment and gifted education, because it helps cultivate a rich perspective on diverse and creative thinking and mathematical concepts.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-164
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• 2008

Given the importance of early experience in algebraic thinking, we designed six consecutive lessons in which $4^{th}$ graders were encouraged to recognize patterns in the process of finding the relationships between two quantities and to represent a given problem with various mathematical models. The results showed that students were able to recognize patterns through concrete activities with manipulative materials and employ various mathematical models to represent a given problem situation. While students were able to represent a problem situation with algebraic expressions, they had difficulties in using the equal sign and letters for the unknown value while they attempted to generalize a pattern. This paper concludes with some implications on how to connect algebraic thinking with students' arithmetic or informal thinking in a meaningful way, and how to approach algebra at the elementary school level.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-58
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to look into the didactical background for teaching proportional reasoning in elementary school mathematics and offer suggestions to improve teaching proportional reasoning in the future. In order to attain these purposes, this study extracted and examined key ideas with respect to the didactical background on teaching proportional reasoning through a theoretical consideration regarding various studies on proportional reasoning. Based on such examination, this study compared and analyzed textbooks used in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. In the light of such theoretical consideration and analytical results, this study provided suggestions for improving teaching proportional reasoning in elementary schools in Korea as follows: giving much weight on proportional reasoning, emphasizing multiplicative comparison and discerning between additive comparison and multiplicative comparison, underlining the ratio concept as an equivalent relation, balancing between comparisons tasks and missing value tasks inclusive of quantitative and qualitative, algebraic and geometrical aspects, emphasizing informal strategies of students before teaching cross-product method, and utilizing informal and pre-formal models actively.