This book contributes to an ongoing effort to establish a research basis for the introduction of algebraic concepts and notation in elementary school--an area of studies that has come to be known as Early Algebra. It provides a rationale for the introduc

Provides a rationale for promoting algebraic reasoning in the elementary school curriculum and empirical data to support it. This book shows how young learners attempt to work with mathematical generalizations before they have learned formal algebraic notation. It is suitable as a text in undergraduate or graduate mathematics education courses.

This book provides the education and mathematics education communities - researchers, teachers, teacher educators, and curriculum developers - with examples of children's understanding and learning of mathematical notations, as well as with reflections regarding the role of mathematical notations in children's learning of mathematics.

Just like representations in everyday life, this book shows that representations are ubiquitous to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the STEM disciplines. "Show Me What You Know" showcases research on representations across a range of STEM disciplines and ages, from children as young as 2 years of age to professional mathematicians. The text highlights the importance of paying close attention to learners' interpretations and productions of different representations as a source of evidence for what learners understand, and another way for learners to "show us what...