Arithmetic is a major mathematical focus in elementary school curriculum, and researchers such as Mason (2008) claim that "algebraic thinking is required in order to make sense of arithmetic" (p. 58). When adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, learners must rely on a small set of fundamental properties also important for the…

The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) call for an in depth, integrated look at elementary school mathematical concepts. Some topics have been realigned to support an integration of topics leading to conceptual understanding. For example, the third-grade standards call for relating the concept of area (geometry) to multiplication…

Quite a bit of the arithmetic in elementary school contains elements of algebraic reasoning. After researching and testing a number of instructional strategies with Irish third graders, these authors found effective methods for cultivating a relational concept of equality in third-grade students. Understanding equality is fundamental to algebraic…

More important than infusing courses and curricula with modern content is to give students the tools to use and understand mathematics--including some that does not yet exist. A curriculum organized around habits of mind tries to close the gap between what users and makers of mathematics do and what they say. These cross-journal articles are…

Algebraic thinking is a top priority in mathematics classrooms today. Because elementary school teachers lay the groundwork to develop students' capacity to think algebraically, it is crucial for teachers to have a conceptual understanding of the connections between arithmetic and algebra and be confident in communicating these connections. Many…

This article uses one of the authors' classroom experiences to explore how teachers can create technology-rich learning environments that support upper elementary students' mathematical understanding of algebra and number and operations. They describe a unit that presents a common financial problem (the use of credit cards) to engage sixth graders…

Illustrates how many key algebraic concepts can be informally developed within the number and operations strand taught in the primary grades. Discusses expressions and equations, properties and conventions, relationships between operations, and variables from this perspective. (ASK)

With testing and accountability on everyone's mind, teachers are looking for creative ways to teach "all" subjects. Literacy is on the top of the list for testing, so it seems to get top priority. But how can teachers make sure that mathematics, especially a crucial area such as algebraic thinking, is a priority as well? Integrating subject matter…