• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.239-259
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• 2011

This study investigated the elementary school students' ability on the algebraic reasoning as generalized arithmetic. It analyzed the written responses from 648 second graders, 688 fourth graders, and 751 sixth graders using tests probing their understanding of the properties of whole number operations. The result of this study showed that many students did not recognize the properties of operations in the problem situations, and had difficulties in applying such properties to solve the problems. Even lower graders were quite successful in using the commutative law both in addition and subtraction. However they had difficulties in using the associative and the distributive law. These difficulties remained even for upper graders. As for the associative and the distributive law, students had more difficulties in solving the problems dealing with specific numbers than those of arbitrary numbers. Given these results, this paper includes issues and implications on how to foster early algebraic reasoning ability in the elementary school.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.655-676
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of teaching on functional thinking, one of the algebraic thinking in sixth grade students level. For this study, we developed functional thinking based-teaching through analyzing mathematical curriculum and preceding research, which consisted of 12 classes, and we investigated the effects of teaching through quantitative and qualitative analysis. In the results of this study, functional thinking based-teaching was statistically proven to be more effective in improving algebraic reasoning skills and lower elements which is an algebraic reasoning as generalized arithmetic and functional thinking, compared to traditional textbook-centered lessons. In addition, the functional thinking based-teaching gave a positive impact on the functional thinking level. Thus functional thinking based-teaching provides guidance on the implications for teaching and learning methods and study of the functional thinking in the future, because of the significant impact on the mathematics learning in six grade students.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.281-301
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• 2024

Many students have experienced difficulties due to the discontinuity in instruction between arithmetic and algebra, and in the field of elementary education, algebra is often treated somewhat implicitly. However, algebra must be learned as algebraic thinking in accordance with the developmental stage at the elementary level through the expansion of numerical systems, principles, and thinking. In this study, algebraic thinking-based classes were developed and conducted for 6th graders in elementary school, and the effect on the ability to solve word-problems in fraction division was analyzed. During the 11 instructional sessions, the students generalized the solution by exploring the relationship between the dividend and the divisor, and further explored generalized representations applicable to all cases. The results of the study confirmed that algebraic thinking-based classes have positive effects on their ability to solve fractional division word-problems. In the problem-solving process, algebraic thinking elements such as symbolization, generalization, reasoning, and justification appeared, with students discovering various mathematical ideas and structures, and using them to solve problems Based on the research results, we induced some implications for early algebraic guidance in elementary school mathematics.