Shaping the Standards: The Growth of Mathematical Ideas

This third article in a series reports on what proved to be one of the more challenging issues raised by the feedback to Principles and Standards for School Mathematics: Discussion Draft and how the writers used that feedback to create a more effective final document.

Although many comments addressed major issues, such as what role technology should play, other responses spoke to the heart of the Standards--what content should be included and how should it grow across the four grade bands of pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Let us take a closer look at how the writers used readers' reactions about articulation of content to guide their revision of the draft. The Algebra Standard is used as an example.

The writers set out to show the growth of mathematical ideas across the grades through the use of ten common Standards. A draft statement of the Standard as it applies across the grades follows.

Mathematics instructional …

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Publication information: Article title: Shaping the Standards: The Growth of Mathematical Ideas. Contributors: Not available. Magazine title: Teaching Children Mathematics. Volume: 6. Issue: 7 Publication date: March 2000. Page number: 448. © 1999 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group.

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