KBKilpatrick

Chapter 9 deals with early fraction concepts.  Fractions present a considerable challenge for elementary and even middle school students.  This chapter explores a complete conceptual development for beginning at grade 1 or 2, with most of the concepts for 3rd grade.  These concepts range from the understanding of the fractional part of the whole, models for fractions, fraction symbols, fraction number sense, and equivalent-fraction concepts. 

Chapter 10 begins to touch on algebraic reasoning.  Today we hear and read about algebraic reasoning and thinking.  This includes students uses algebra patterns, representations, and functions.  These concepts should begin in Kindergarten and continue through the years.  This chapter focuses on the content of algebra: pattern and regularity, representation and symbolism, and relationships and functions.

Chapter 11 talks about helping children use data.  Data in the form of graphs is important in the way we receive information in everyday life.  Students must begin be grasping how information is categorized and presented in several graphical forms.  The focus of our teaching should be for our students to be able to use information from graphs to answer questions. 

Chapter 12 deals with early experiences and with probability concepts.  Simply telling children how probability works is completely useless.  Instruction at this level should confront students with the outcomes of simple games and experiments with discussion of the reasons for these outcomes.