Developing Algebraic Thinking in Grades 4-10

CLLC staff presented a one-week summer institute sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Education in July 2007. The course addressed the patterns, relationships, and algebra strand of the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework placing particular emphasis on the content priority variables, equations, and non-linear functions. Throughout the course participants gained an understanding of how these important mathematics concepts are developed in standards-based programs across the grades, as well as, how the development of algebraic thinking habits of mind can contribute to student conceptual understanding and problem solving in this strand. Following completion of the summer institute, CLLC presented a series of continuing sessions to reinforce the material presented and prepared an evaluation report for the Department.