Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association
Volume 32 Issue 3, August 1995
10 – 14
Developing and Assessing Understanding of Integer Operations
Jim Vance
The study of integers in the middle grades bridges the concretely based elementary school program and the more formal secondary school curricula. While the basic ideas are grounded in real-world situations and can be modeled concretely and semiconcretely, development of the operations with integers also relies on examining the consequences of extending whole number meanings, properties and patterns. As students build on previous understanding, they have many opportunities to make mathematical connections and to use informal mathematical reasoning. The first encounter with integers can be an exciting and rewarding mathematical adventure.
