The current need for increased mathematics education at all levels has received many headlines and much attention from Congress, educators, and the general public. The National Commission on Excellence in Education recommended a greater number of mathematic courses for high school student and more stringent criteria for selection of mathematics teachers. The critics assert that emphasis must be placed on content, with rigorous instruction beginning at the elementary school level.
Effective mathematics requires more than the use of symbols or numerals. All students, and even many adults, need concrete models to understand mathematical concepts. Elementary and middle school children can understand and master basic concepts of mathematics, including algebra, when concrete materials are used to model these concepts. This article presents a rationale for these statements and describes a model for teaching early algebraic concepts using manipulative materials.
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