Algebra in Elementary School: Parent Newsletter 5

Algebra in Elementary School
By Linda Levi

Parents have many questions when it comes to their children’s math instruction. The math we learned and the way we learned it is often different from what we see happening with our children. Algebraic reasoning in the elementary school is an example of one of these differences. Most of us learned arithmetic in elementary school and didn’t engage in algebraic concepts until middle or high school.

Educators throughout the nation have come to the conclusion that if children are to learn algebra with understanding, algebraic reasoning must be an integral part of elementary school mathematics. University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers Thomas Carpenter and Linda Levi along with a core group of elementary school teachers throughout the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) have been involved in this pioneering work of understanding how to include algebraic reasoning in the elementary grades. This work has been supported by major grants from the National Science Foundation and The US Department of Education. Results from this research were used in a study involving over 300 teachers in The Los Angeles School District.

A major focus of this algebra work has been on fostering an understanding of the fundamental principles of mathematics. Consider, for example, the following problems:

3476 + 524 – 523 = n

98 + 325 + 102 + 175 = n

n = 38 + 8x38 + 38

From an arithmetic standpoint, the above problems are difficult to solve. The numbers involved are large and there are multiple opportunities for errors. However, if you understand some fundamental principles of mathematics, each of these number sentences has a fairly simple solution. For example, in the first problem, 523 is one less than 524. If the first thing you do is subtract 523 from 524, you can simply add one to 3476 to figure the value of n. This type of understanding is integral to learning math in the elementary school and paves the way for success with algebra in later grades. What are some ways you could solve the other two problems using algebraic reasoning?

Linda Levi is an Elementary School Mathematics Consultant and Researcher and Developer of Cognitively Guided Instruction. Dr. Levi has researched the factors that enable children to learn math with understanding and is currently studying how the teaching of mathematics in elementary school can prepare children for success in algebra.