Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Teaching Developmentally

Apago PDF Enhancer

S

E

V

E

N

T

H

E

D

I


T

I

O

N

Apago PDF Enhancer
John A. Van de Walle
Late of Virginia Commonwealth University

Karen S. Karp
University of Louisville

Jennifer M. Bay-Williams
University of Louisville

Allyn & Bacon

Boston
Mexico City

Montreal

Hong Kong

New York
Toronto

Singapore

San Francisco

London
Tokyo

Madrid

Munich


Cape Town

Sydney

Paris

Acquisitions Editor: Kelly Villella Canton
Senior Development Editor: Shannon Steed
Editorial Assistant: Annalea Manalili
Senior Marketing Manager: Darcy Betts
Editorial Production Service: Omegatype Typography, Inc.
Composition Buyer: Linda Cox
Manufacturing Buyer: Megan Cochran
Electronic Composition: Omegatype Typography, Inc.
Interior Design: Carol Somberg
Cover Administrator: Linda Knowles
For related titles and support materials, visit our online catalog at www.pearsonhighered.com.
Copyright © 2010, 2007, 2004 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or

utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright
owner.
To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Allyn and
Bacon, Permissions Department, 501 Boylston Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02116, or fax your
request to 617-671-2290.
Between the time website information is gathered and then published, it is not unusual for some sites
to have closed. Also, the transcription of URLs can result in typographical errors. The publisher
would appreciate notification where these errors occur so that they may be corrected in subsequent
editions.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Apago PDF Enhancer

Van de Walle, John A.
Elementary and middle school mathematics: teaching developmentally. —
7th ed. / John A. Van de Walle, Karen S. Karp, Jennifer M. Bay-Williams.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-205-57352-3

ISBN-10: 0-205-57352-5
1. Mathematics—Study and teaching (Elementary) 2. Mathematics—
Study and teaching (Middle school) I. Karp, Karen. II. Bay-Williams, Jennifer M.
QA135.6.V36 2008
510.71'2—dc22

III. Title.

2008040112

Printed in the United States of America
10

9

8

7

6


5

4

3

2

1

WEB

13

12

11

10


09

08

Allyn & Bacon
is an imprint of

www.pearsonhighered.com

ISBN-10: 0-205-57352-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-205-57352-3

In Memoriam
“Do you think anyone will ever read it?” our father
asked with equal parts hope and terror as the first
complete version of the first manuscript of this
book ground slowly off the dot matrix printer.
Dad envisioned his book as one that teachers would
not just read but use as a toolkit and guide in helping

students discover math. With that vision in mind, he
had spent nearly two years pouring his heart, soul,
and everything he knew about teaching mathematics
into “the book.” In the two decades since that first
manuscript rolled off the printer, “the book” became a
part of our family—sort of a child in need of constant
love and care, even as it grew and matured and made
us all enormously proud.
Many in the field of math education referred to
our father as a “rock star,” a description that utterly
baffled him and about which we mercilessly teased
him. To us, he was just our dad. If we needed any

“Believe in kids!”

proof that Dad was in fact a rock star, it came in the

—John A. Van de Walle

stories that poured in when he died—from countless


Apago PDF Enhancer

teachers, colleagues, and most importantly from

elementary school students about how our father had
taught them to actually do math. Through this book, millions of children all over the world will be able to
use math as a tool that they understand, rather than as a set of meaningless procedures to be memorized
and quickly forgotten. Dad could not have imagined a better legacy.
Our deepest wish on our father’s behalf is that with the guidance of “the book,” teachers will continue
to show their students how to discover and to own for themselves the joy of doing math. Nothing would
honor our dad more than that.

—Gretchen Van de Walle and Bridget Phipps
(daughters of John A. Van de Walle)

Dedication
As many of you may know, John Van de Walle passed away suddenly after the release of the sixth edition.
It was during the development of the previous edition that we (Karen and Jennifer) first started writing
for this book, working toward becoming coauthors for the seventh edition. Through that experience, we

appreciate more fully John’s commitment to excellence—thoroughly considering recent research, feedback
from others, and quality resources that had emerged. His loss was difficult for all who knew him and we
miss him greatly.
We believe that our work on this edition reflects our understanding and strong belief in John’s
philosophy of teaching and his deep commitment to children and prospective and practicing teachers.
John’s enthusiasm as an advocate for meaningful mathematics instruction is something we keep in the
forefront of our teaching, thinking, and writing. In recognition of his contributions to the field and his
lasting legacy in mathematics teacher education, we dedicate this book to John A. Van de Walle.

Apago PDF Enhancer

Over the past 20 years, many of us at Pearson Allyn & Bacon and Longman have had the privilege to
work with John Van de Walle, as well as the pleasure to get to know him. Undoubtedly, Elementary
and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally has become the gold standard for elementary
mathematics methods courses. John set the bar high for math education. He became an exemplar of
what a textbook author should be: dedicated to the field, committed to helping all children make sense
of mathematics, focused on helping educators everywhere improve math teaching and learning, diligent
in gathering resources and references and keeping up with the latest research and trends, and meticulous
in the preparation of every detail of the textbook and supplements. We have all been fortunate for the
opportunity to have known the man behind “the book”—the devoted family man and the quintessential

teacher educator. He is sorely missed and will not be forgotten.
—Pearson Allyn & Bacon

About the Authors

John A. Van de Walle was a professor emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth
University. He was a mathematics education consultant who regularly
gave professional development workshops for K–8 teachers in the United
States and Canada. He visited and taught in elementary school classrooms
and worked with teachers to implement student-centered math lessons.
He co-authored the Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics K–6
series and contributed to the new Pearson School mathematics program,
enVisionMATH. Additionally, he wrote numerous chapters and articles for
the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) books and journals and was very active in NCTM. He served as chair of the Educational
Materials Committee and program chair for a regional conference. He was
a frequent speaker at national and regional meetings, and was a member of
the board of directors from 1998–2001.

S. KarpEnhancer
is a professor of mathematics education at the University
ApagoKaren
PDF

of Louisville (Kentucky). Prior to entering the field of teacher education
she was an elementary school teacher in New York. Karen is a coauthor
of Feisty Females: Inspiring Girls to Think Mathematically, which is aligned
with her research interests on teaching mathematics to diverse populations.
With Jennifer, Karen co-edited Growing Professionally: Readings from NCTM
Publications for Grades K–8. She is a member of the board of directors of the
NCTM and a former president of the Association of Mathematics Teacher
Educators (AMTE).

Jennifer M. Bay-Williams is an associate professor of mathematics education at the University of Louisville (Kentucky). Jennifer has published
many articles on teaching and learning in NCTM journals. She has also
coauthored the following books: Math and Literature: Grades 6–8, Math and
Nonfiction: Grades 6–8, and Navigating Through Connections in Grades 6–8.
Jennifer taught elementary, middle, and high school in Missouri and in Peru,
and continues to work in classrooms at all levels with students and with
teachers. Jennifer serves as the president of the Association of Mathematics
Teacher Educators (AMTE) and chair of the NCTM Emerging Issues
Committee.

v

This page intentionally left blank

Apago PDF Enhancer

Brief Contents
SECTION I
Teaching Mathematics: Foundations and Perspectives
CHAPTER 1 Teaching Mathematics
in the Era of the NCTM Standards

1

CHAPTER 5 Building Assessment
into Instruction

76
93

CHAPTER 2 Exploring What It Means
to Know and Do Mathematics

13

CHAPTER 6 Teaching Mathematics
Equitably to All Children

CHAPTER 3 Teaching Through
Problem Solving

32

CHAPTER 7 Using Technology
to Teach Mathematics

CHAPTER 4 Planning in the ProblemBased Classroom

58

111

SECTION II
Development of Mathematical Concepts and Procedures

Apago PDF Enhancer

CHAPTER 8 Developing Early Number
Concepts and Number Sense

125

CHAPTER 18 Proportional Reasoning

348

CHAPTER 9 Developing Meanings for
the Operations

CHAPTER 19 Developing Measurement
Concepts

145

369

CHAPTER 10 Helping Children
Master the Basic Facts

CHAPTER 20 Geometric Thinking
and Geometric Concepts

167

399

CHAPTER 11 Developing WholeNumber Place-Value Concepts

CHAPTER 21 Developing Concepts
of Data Analysis

187

436

CHAPTER 12 Developing Strategies
for Whole-Number Computation

CHAPTER 22 Exploring Concepts
of Probability

213

456

CHAPTER 13 Using Computational
Estimation with Whole Numbers

CHAPTER 23 Developing Concepts of
Exponents, Integers, and Real Numbers

240

473

CHAPTER 14 Algebraic Thinking:
Generalizations, Patterns, and Functions

254

APPENDIX A Principles and Standards
for School Mathematics: Content Standards
and Grade Level Expectations

A-1

CHAPTER 15 Developing Fraction
Concepts

286

APPENDIX B Standards for Teaching
Mathematics

B-1

CHAPTER 16 Developing Strategies
for Fraction Computation

309

APPENDIX C Guide to Blackline
Masters

C-1

CHAPTER 17 Developing Concepts
of Decimals and Percents

328

vii

This page intentionally left blank

Apago PDF Enhancer

Contents
Preface

xix

SECTION I
Teaching Mathematics: Foundations and Perspectives
The fundamental core of effective teaching of mathematics combines an understanding of how children learn, how to
promote that learning by teaching through problem solving, and how to plan for and assess that learning on a daily
basis. Introductory chapters in this section provide perspectives on trends in mathematics education and the process of
doing mathematics. These chapters develop the core ideas of learning, teaching, planning, and assessment. Additional
perspectives on mathematics for children with diverse backgrounds and the role of technology are also discussed.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

Teaching Mathematics in the
Era of the NCTM Standards

Exploring What It Means to
Know and Do Mathematics

The National Standards-Based Movement

1

What Does It Mean to Do Mathematics?

1

13

13

Mathematics Is the Science of Pattern and Order 13
A Classroom Environment for Doing Mathematics 14

Apago PDF Enhancer

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
The Six Principles 2
The Five Content Standards
The Five Process Standards

2

An Invitation to Do Mathematics

3

Let’s Do Some Mathematics! 15
Where Are the Answers? 19

3

Curriculum Focal Points: A Quest for Coherence

5

The Professional Standards for Teaching
Mathematics and Mathematics Teaching Today
Shifts in the Classroom Environment
The Teaching Standards 5

What Does It Mean to Learn Mathematics?
5

5

Influences and Pressures on Mathematics Teaching
National and International Studies
State Standards 7
Curriculum 7
A Changing World Economy 8

6

An Invitation to Learn and Grow

9

Becoming a Teacher of Mathematics 9

6

Constructivist Theory 20
Sociocultural Theory 21
Implications for Teaching Mathematics

20

21

What Does It Mean to Understand Mathematics?

23

Mathematics Proficiency 24
Implications for Teaching Mathematics 25
Benefits of a Relational Understanding 26
Multiple Representations to Support Relational
Understanding 27

Connecting the Dots

29

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 1

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 2

Writing to Learn 11
For Discussion and Exploration

Writing to Learn 30
For Discussion and Exploration

11

15

30

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 1

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 2

Recommended Readings 11
Standards-Based Curricula 12
Online Resources 12
Field Experience Guide Connections

Recommended Readings 30
Online Resources 31
Field Experience Guide Connections

31

12

ix

x

Contents

Planning for All Learners

CHAPTER 3
Teaching Through Problem
Solving
Teaching Through Problem Solving

32

32

Drill or Practice?

Problems and Tasks for Learning Mathematics 33
A Shift in the Role of Problems 33
The Value of Teaching Through Problem Solving 33
Examples of Problem-Based Tasks 34

Homework

Multiple Entry Points 36
Creating Meaningful and Engaging Contexts 37
How to Find Quality Tasks and Problem-Based
Lessons 38

Writing to Learn 72
For Discussion and Exploration 72
43

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 4

Let Students Do the Talking 43
How Much to Tell and Not to Tell 44
The Importance of Student Writing 44
Metacognition 46
Disposition 47
Attitudinal Goals 47

Recommended Readings 73
Online Resources 73
Field Experience Guide Connections 73
EXPANDED LESSON

Fixed Areas

74

Apago PDF Enhancer

47

The Before Phase of a Lesson 48
Teacher Actions in the Before Phase 48
The During Phase of a Lesson 51
Teacher Actions in the During Phase 51
The After Phase of a Lesson 52
Teacher Actions in the After Phase 53

CHAPTER 5
Building Assessment into
Instruction
Integrating Assessment into Instruction

55

What Is Assessment? 76
The Assessment Standards 76
Why Do We Assess? 77
What Should Be Assessed? 78

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 3
Writing to Learn 56
For Discussion and Exploration 56

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 3

Performance-Based Assessments

78

Examples of Performance-Based Tasks 79
Thoughts about Assessment Tasks 80

Recommended Readings 56
Online Resources 57
Field Experience Guide Connections 57

Rubrics and Performance Indicators
Simple Rubrics 80
Performance Indicators 81
Student Involvement with Rubrics 82

CHAPTER 4
Planning in the ProblemBased Classroom
Planning a Problem-Based Lesson

72

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 4

42

Teaching in a Problem-Based Classroom

Frequently Asked Questions

71

Practice as Homework 71
Drill as Homework 71
Provide Homework Support

Four-Step Problem-Solving Process 42
Problem-Solving Strategies 43

A Three-Phase Lesson Format

69

New Definitions of Drill and Practice 69
What Drill Provides 69
What Practice Provides 70
When Is Drill Appropriate? 70
Students Who Don’t Get It 71

Selecting or Designing Problem-Based Tasks and
Lessons 36

Teaching about Problem Solving

64

Make Accommodations and Modifications 65
Differentiating Instruction 65
Flexible Groupings 67
Example of Accommodating a Lesson: ELLs 67

58

Planning Process for Developing a Lesson 58
Applying the Planning Process 62
Variations of the Three-Phase Lesson 63
Textbooks as Resources 64

Observation Tools

58

82

Anecdotal Notes 83
Observation Rubric 83
Checklists for Individual Students 83
Checklists for Full Classes 84

Writing and Journals

84

The Value of Writing 84
Journals 85

80

76

76

Contents

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 6

Writing Prompts and Ideas 85
Journals for Early Learners 86
Student Self-Assessment 87

Diagnostic Interviews
Tests

Writing to Learn 109
For Discussion and Exploration 109

87

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 6

88

Improving Performance on High-Stakes Tests

Recommended Readings 110
Online Resources 110
Field Experience Guide Connections 110

89

Teach Fundamental Concepts and Processes 89
Test-Taking Strategies 89

Grading

xi

90

Grading Issues 90

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 7

Writing to Learn 91
For Discussion and Exploration 91

Using Technology to Teach
Mathematics

111

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 5

Calculators in Mathematics Instruction

Recommended Readings 91
Online Resources 92
Field Experience Guide Connections 92

112

When to Use a Calculator 112
Benefits of Calculator Use 112
Graphing Calculators 113
Data-Collection Devices

Computers in Mathematics Instruction

CHAPTER 6

Mathematics for All Children

Tools for Developing Geometry 116

93

Tools for Developing Algebraic Thinking
Apago PDF Enhancer
Instructional Software 118
Problem Solving 118
Drill and Reinforcement 118

Guidelines for Selecting and Using Software
95

Guidelines for Using Software 119

Response to Intervention 95
Students with Mild Disabilities 96
Students with Significant Disabilities 100

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

How to Select Software 119

Resources on the Internet
102

Windows and Mirrors 102
Culturally Relevant Mathematics Instruction 102
Ethnomathematics 103
English Language Learners (ELLs) 104
Strategies for Teaching Mathematics to ELLs 104

Working Toward Gender Equity

How to Select Internet Resources 120
Emerging Technologies 120

Writing to Learn 122
For Discussion and Exploration 123

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 7

106

Reducing Resistance and Building Resilience

120

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 7

Possible Causes of Gender Inequity 106
What Can Be Done? 106
107

Providing for Students Who Are Mathematically
Gifted 107

109

118

Concept Instruction 118

94

Providing for Students with Special Needs

Final Thoughts

Tools for Developing Probability and Data Analysis 117

93

Diversity in Today’s Classroom 94
Tracking and Flexible Grouping 94
Instructional Principles for Diverse Learners 95

Strategies to Avoid 108
Strategies to Incorporate 108

115

Tools for Developing Numeration 115

Teaching Mathematics
Equitably to All Children
Creating Equitable Instruction

114

Recommended Readings 123
Online Resources 123
Field Experience Guide Connections 124

119

xii

Contents

SECTION II
Development of Mathematical Concepts and Procedures
This section serves as the application of the core ideas of Section I. Here you will find chapters on every major content area in the pre-K–8 mathematics curriculum. Numerous problem-based activities to engage students are interwoven with a discussion of the mathematical content and how children develop their understanding of that content.
At the outset of each chapter, you will find a listing of “Big Ideas,” the mathematical umbrella for the chapter. Also
included are ideas for incorporating children’s literature, technology, and assessment. These chapters are designed to
help you develop pedagogical strategies and to serve as a resource for your teaching now and in the future.

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

Developing Early Number
Concepts and Number Sense

Developing Meanings
for the Operations

Promoting Good Beginnings

125

Addition and Subtraction Problem Structures

125

Number Development in Pre-K and Kindergarten

126

Early Counting 127

145

Examples of the Four Problem Structures 146

Teaching Addition and Subtraction

The Relationships of More, Less, and Same 126

148

Contextual Problems 148

Numeral Writing and Recognition 128

INVESTIGATIONS IN NUMBER, DATA, AND SPACE

Counting On and Counting Back 128

Early Number Sense

145

Grade 2, Counting, Coins, and Combinations

Apago PDF Model-Based
Enhancer
Problems 151

129

Relationships among Numbers 1 Through 10

130

Properties of Addition and Subtraction 153

Patterned Set Recognition 130

Multiplication and Division Problem Structures

One and Two More, One and Two Less 131

Examples of the Four Problem Structures 154

Anchoring Numbers to 5 and 10 132

Teaching Multiplication and Division

Part-Part-Whole Relationships 134
Dot Cards as a Model for Teaching Number
Relationships 137

Remainders 157
138

Pre-Place-Value Concepts 138
Extending More Than and Less Than Relationships 139
Doubles and Near-Doubles 139

Model-Based Problems 158
Properties of Multiplication and Division 160

Strategies for Solving Contextual Problems
Analyzing Context Problems 161

140

Two-Step Problems 163

Estimation and Measurement 140

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 9

Data Collection and Analysis 141

Extensions to Early Mental Mathematics

142

Writing to Learn 164
For Discussion and Exploration 164

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 8

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 9

Writing to Learn 143
For Discussion and Exploration 143

Literature Connections 165
Recommended Readings 165
Online Resources 166
Field Experience Guide Connections 166

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 8
Literature Connections 143
Recommended Readings 144
Online Resources 144
Field Experience Guide Connections 144

157

Contextual Problems 157

Relationships for Numbers 10 Through 20

Number Sense in Their World

150

161

154

Contents

Basic Ideas of Place Value

CHAPTER 10

188

Integration of Base-Ten Groupings with Count
by Ones 188

Helping Children Master
the Basic Facts

167

Developmental Nature of Basic Fact Mastery

Role of Counting 189
Integration of Groupings with Words 189

167

Integration of Groupings with Place-Value Notation 190

Approaches to Fact Mastery 168

Models for Place Value

Guiding Strategy Development 169

Reasoning Strategies for Addition Facts

191

Base-Ten Models and the Ten-Makes-One Relationship 191
170

Groupable Models 191

One More Than and Two More Than 170
Adding Zero 171
Using 5 as an Anchor 172
10 Facts 172
Up Over 10 172
Doubles 173
Near-Doubles 173
Reinforcing Reasoning Strategies 174

Reasoning Strategies for Subtraction Facts

Pregrouped or Trading Models 192
Nonproportional Models 192

Developing Base-Ten Concepts

193

Grouping Activities 193
The Strangeness of Ones, Tens, and Hundreds 195
Grouping Tens to Make 100 195
Equivalent Representations 195

Oral and Written Names for Numbers

175

Reasoning Strategies for Multiplication Facts

197

Two-Digit Number Names 197

Subtraction as Think-Addition 175
Down Over 10 176
Take from the 10 176

Three-Digit Number Names 198
Written Symbols 198

Patterns and Relationships with Multidigit
Numbers 200

177

Doubles 178
Fives 178
Zeros and Ones 178
Nifty Nines 179
Using Known Facts to Derive Other Facts 180

The Hundreds Chart 200
Relationships with Landmark Numbers 202

Number Relationships for Addition and Subtraction
Apago PDF Enhancer
Connections to Real-World Ideas 207

Division Facts and “Near Facts”
Mastering the Basic Facts

Numbers Beyond 1000

181

204

207

Extending the Place-Value System 208

182

Conceptualizing Large Numbers 209

Effective Drill 182

Fact Remediation

xiii

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 11

184

Writing to Learn 210
For Discussion and Exploration 210

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 10
Writing to Learn 185
For Discussion and Exploration 185

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 11
Literature Connections 211
Recommended Readings 211
Online Resources 212
Field Experience Guide Connections 212

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 10
Literature Connections 185
Recommended Readings 186
Online Resources 186
Field Experience Guide Connections 186

CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 11
Developing Whole-Number
Place-Value Concepts
Pre-Base-Ten Concepts

188

Developing Strategies for
Whole-Number Computation
187
Toward Computational Fluency
Direct Modeling 214

Children’s Pre-Base-Ten View of Numbers 188

Student-Invented Strategies 215

Count by Ones 188

Traditional Algorithms 217

214

213

xiv

Contents

Development of Student-Invented Strategies

Computational Estimation Strategies

218

Creating an Environment for Inventing Strategies 218

Front-End Methods 245

Models to Support Invented Strategies 218

Rounding Methods 246

Student-Invented Strategies for Addition
and Subtraction 219

245

Compatible Numbers 247
Clustering 248

Adding and Subtracting Single-Digit Numbers 219

Use Tens and Hundreds 248

Adding Two-Digit Numbers 220

Estimation Experiences

Subtracting by Counting Up 220

249

Calculator Activities 249

Take-Away Subtraction 221

Using Whole Numbers to Estimate Rational
Numbers 251

Extensions and Challenges 222

Traditional Algorithms for Addition and Subtraction

223

Addition Algorithm 223
Subtraction Algorithm 225

Student-Invented Strategies for Multiplication

226

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 13
Writing to Learn 252
For Discussion and Exploration 252

Useful Representations 226

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 13

Multiplication by a Single-Digit Multiplier 227

Literature Connections 252
Recommended Readings 252
Online Resources 252
Field Experience Guide Connections 253

Multiplication of Larger Numbers 228

Traditional Algorithm for Multiplication

230

One-Digit Multipliers 230
Two-Digit Multipliers 231

Student-Invented Strategies for Division

232

CHAPTER 14

Missing-Factor Strategies 232
Cluster Problems 233

Traditional Algorithm for Division

234

Apago PDF

One-Digit Divisors 234
Two-Digit Divisors 235

Algebraic Thinking:
Generalizations, Patterns,
Enhancer
and Functions

254

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 12

Algebraic Thinking

Writing to Learn 237
For Discussion and Exploration 238

Generalization from Arithmetic and from Patterns

255

Generalization in the Hundreds Chart 256

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 12

Generalization Through Exploring a Pattern 257

Literature Connections 238
Recommended Readings 239
Online Resources 239
Field Experience Guide Connections 239

Meaningful Use of Symbols

257

The Meaning of the Equal Sign 258
The Meaning of Variables 262

Making Structure in the Number System Explicit
Making Conjectures about Properties 265

CHAPTER 13

Justifying Conjectures 266

Using Computational Estimation
with Whole Numbers
240
Introducing Computational Estimation

255

Generalization with Addition 255

240

Understanding Computational Estimation 241
Suggestions for Teaching Computational
Estimation 242

Computational Estimation from Invented
Strategies 244

Odd and Even Relationships 266

Study of Patterns and Functions

267

Repeating Patterns 267
Growing Patterns 269
Linear Functions 274

Mathematical Modeling
Teaching Considerations

276
277

Emphasize Appropriate Algebra Vocabulary 277
Multiple Representations 278

Stop Before the Details 244

Connect Representations 280

Use Related Problem Sets 244

Algebraic Thinking Across the Curriculum 280

265

Contents

CONNECTED MATHEMATICS

Grade 7, Variables and Patterns

xv

Online Resources 307
Field Experience Guide Connections 308

281

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 14
Writing to Learn 283
For Discussion and Exploration 283

CHAPTER 16
Developing Strategies
for Fraction Computation

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 14
Literature Connections 283
Recommended Readings 284
Online Resources 284
Field Experience Guide Connections 285

Number Sense and Fraction Algorithms

309

310

Conceptual Development Takes Time 310
A Problem-Based Number Sense Approach 310
Computational Estimation 310

Addition and Subtraction

CHAPTER 15

Invented Strategies 312

Developing Fraction
Concepts
Meanings of Fractions

286

Developing an Algorithm 315
Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions 317

Multiplication

287

317

Developing the Concept 317

Fraction Constructs 287

Developing the Algorithm 320

Building on Whole-Number Concepts 287

Models for Fractions

312

Factors Greater Than One 320

288

Division

Region or Area Models 288

321

Partitive Interpretation of Division 321

Length Models 289

Measurement Interpretation of Division 323

Set Models 290

Concept of Fractional Parts

Answers That Are Not Whole Numbers 324

291

Developing the Algorithms
Apago PDF Enhancer

Sharing Tasks 291

324

Fraction Language 293

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 16

Equivalent Size of Fraction Pieces 293

Writing to Learn 326
For Discussion and Exploration 326

Partitioning 294

Using Fraction Language and Symbols

294

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 16

Counting Fraction Parts: Iteration 294

Literature Connections 326
Recommended Readings 327
Online Resources 327
Field Experience Guide Connections 327

Fraction Notation 296
Fractions Greater Than 1 296
Assessing Understanding 297

Estimating with Fractions

298

Benchmarks of Zero, One-Half, and One 299

CHAPTER 17

Using Number Sense to Compare 299

Equivalent-Fraction Concepts

Developing Concepts
of Decimals and Percents

301

Conceptual Focus on Equivalence 301
Equivalent-Fraction Models 302

Connecting Fractions and Decimals

Developing an Equivalent-Fraction Algorithm 304

Teaching Considerations for Fraction Concepts
REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 15
Writing to Learn 306
For Discussion and Exploration 306

306

328

Base-Ten Fractions 329
Extending the Place-Value System 330
Fraction-Decimal Connection 332

Developing Decimal Number Sense

333

Familiar Fractions Connected to Decimals 334

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 15

Approximation with a Nice Fraction 335

Literature Connections 307
Recommended Readings 307

Ordering Decimal Numbers 336
Other Fraction-Decimal Equivalents 337

328

xvi

Contents

Introducing Percents

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 18

337

Models and Terminology 338

Literature Connections 366
Recommended Readings 367
Online Resources 368
Field Experience Guide Connections 368

Realistic Percent Problems 339
Estimation 341

Computation with Decimals

342

The Role of Estimation 342
Addition and Subtraction 342
Multiplication 343

CHAPTER 19

Division 344

Developing Measurement
Concepts

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 17
Writing to Learn 345
For Discussion and Exploration 345

The Meaning and Process of Measuring

370

Concepts and Skills 371
Nonstandard Units and Standard Units:
Reasons for Using Each 372

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 17
Literature Connections 345
Recommended Readings 346
Online Resources 346
Field Experience Guide Connections 347

The Role of Estimation and Approximation 372

Length

373

Comparison Activities 373
Units of Length 374
Making and Using Rulers 375

CHAPTER 18

Area

Proportional
Reasoning

348

376

Comparison Activities 376
INVESTIGATIONS IN NUMBER, DATA, AND SPACE

Ratios

Grade 3, Perimeter, Angles, and Area

348

Apago PDF Units
Enhancer
of Area 378

Types of Ratios 349

Proportional Reasoning

The Relationship Between Area and Perimeter 380

350

Volume and Capacity

Additive Versus Multiplicative Situations 351

Units of Volume and Capacity 381

Equivalent Ratios 353

Weight and Mass

Different Ratios 354

Grade 7, Comparing and Scaling

Units of Weight or Mass 383

356

Time

Ratio Tables 356

Proportional Reasoning Across the Curriculum
Algebra 359

383

Duration 383
358

Clock Reading 383
Elapsed Time 384

Measurement and Geometry 359
Scale Drawings 360
Statistics 361
363

382

Comparison Activities 382

CONNECTED MATHEMATICS

Proportions

380

Comparison Activities 381

Indentifying Multiplicative Relationships 352

Number: Fractions and Percent

362

Money

385

Coin Recognition and Values 385
Counting Sets of Coins 385
Making Change 386

Angles

386

Within and Between Ratios 363

Comparison Activities 386

Reasoning Approaches 364

Units of Angular Measure 386

Cross-Product Approach 365

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 18
Writing to Learn 366
For Discussion and Exploration 366

377

Using Protractors and Angle Rulers 386

Introducing Standard Units
Instructional Goals

387

387

Important Standard Units and Relationships 389

369

Contents

Estimating Measures

xvii

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 20

389

Strategies for Estimating Measurements 390

Writing to Learn 433
For Discussion and Exploration 433

Tips for Teaching Estimation 390
Measurement Estimation Activities 391

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 20

Developing Formulas for Area and Volume

391

Students’ Misconceptions 391
Areas of Rectangles, Parallelograms, Triangles,
and Trapezoids 392

Literature Connections 433
Recommended Readings 434
Online Resources 434
Field Experience Guide Connections 435

Circumference and Area of Circles 394
Volumes of Common Solid Shapes 395
Connections among Formulas 396

CHAPTER 21

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 19

Developing Concepts
of Data Analysis

Writing to Learn 397
For Discussion and Exploration 397

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 19

What Does It Mean to Do Statistics?

436
437

Is It Statistics or Is It Mathematics? 437
Variability 437
The Shape of Data 438
Process of Doing Statistics 439

Literature Connections 397
Recommended Readings 397
Online Resources 398
Field Experience Guide Connections 398

Formulating Questions

439

Ideas for Questions 439

CHAPTER 20

Data Collection

Geometric Thinking and Geometric
Concepts 399

440

Using Existing Data Sources 440

Data Analysis: Classification

Apago PDF Enhancer
Attribute Materials

Geometry Goals for Students

399

441

441

Data Analysis: Graphical Representations

Spatial Sense and Geometric Reasoning 400

443

Bar Graphs and Tally Charts 443

Geometric Content 400

Circle Graphs 444

The Development of Geometric Thinking

400

The van Hiele Levels of Geometric Thought 400
Implications for Instruction 404

Continuous Data Graphs 445
Scatter Plots 447

Data Analysis: Measures of Center

Learning about Shapes and Properties

405

449

Averages 449

Shapes and Properties for Level-0 Thinkers 405

Understanding the Mean: Two Interpretations 449

Shapes and Properties for Level-1 Thinkers 410

Box-and-Whisker Plots 452

Shapes and Properties for Level-2 Thinkers 416

Learning about Transformations

419

Transformations for Level-0 Thinkers 419
Transformations for Level-1 Thinkers 422
Transformations for Level-2 Thinkers 424

Learning about Location

453

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 21
Writing to Learn 454
For Discussion and Exploration 454

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 21

424

Location for Level-0 Thinkers 424
Location for Level-1 Thinkers 426
Location for Level-2 Thinkers 428

Learning about Visualization

Interpreting Results

429

Visualization for Level-0 Thinkers 429
Visualization for Level-1 Thinkers 430
Visualization for Level-2 Thinkers 432

Literature Connections 454
Recommended Readings 455
Online Resources 455
Field Experience Guide Connections 455

xviii

Contents

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

Exploring Concepts
of Probability
Introducing Probability

457

Exponents

Likely or Not Likely 457
The Probability Continuum 459

473

Exponents in Expressions and Equations 473

Theoretical Probability and Experiments

Negative Exponents 476

460

Scientific Notation 477

Theoretical Probability 461

Integers

Experiments 462
Implications for Instruction 464

479

Contexts for Exploring Integers 479

Use of Technology in Experiments 464

Meaning of Negative Numbers 481

Sample Spaces and Probability of Two Events

465

Independent Events 465
Two-Event Probabilities with an Area Model 466
Dependent Events 467

Simulations

Developing Concepts
of Exponents, Integers,
and Real Numbers

456

Two Models for Teaching Integers 481

Operations with Integers

482

Addition and Subtraction 482
Multiplication and Division 484

468

Real Numbers

486

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 22

Rational Numbers 486

Writing to Learn 470
For Discussion and Exploration 470

Irrational Numbers 487
Density of the Real Numbers 489

RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER 22

REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 23

Literature Connections 471
Recommended Readings 471
Online Resources 472
Field Experience Guide Connections 472

Writing to Learn 489
For Discussion and Exploration 489

Apago PDFRESOURCES
Enhancer
FOR CHAPTER 23
Literature Connections 490
Recommended Readings 490
Online Resources 490
Field Experience Guide Connections 490

APPENDIX A
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics:
Content Standards and Grade Level Expectations A-1

APPENDIX B
Standards for Teaching Mathematics

APPENDIX C
Guide to Blackline Masters
References
Index I-1

R-1

C-1

B-1

473

Preface
WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THIS BOOK
If you look at the table of contents, you will see that the chapters are separated into two distinct
sections. The first section, consisting of seven chapters, deals with important ideas that cross
the boundaries of specific areas of content. The second section, consisting of 16 chapters, offers
teaching suggestions for every major mathematics topic in the pre-K–8 curriculum. Chapters in
Section I offer perspective on the challenging task of helping children learn mathematics. The
evolution of mathematics education and underlying causes for those changes are important components of your professional knowledge as a mathematics teacher. Having a feel for the discipline
of mathematics—that is, to know what it means to “do mathematics”—is also a critical component
of your profession. The first two chapters address these issues.
Chapters 2 and 3 are core chapters in which you will learn about a constructivist view of learning, how that is applied to learning mathematics, and what it means to teach through problem
solving. Chapter 4 will help you translate these ideas of how children best learn mathematics into
the lessons you will be teaching. Here you will find practical perspectives on planning effective
lessons for all children, on the value of drill and practice, and other issues. A sample lesson plan is
found at the end of this chapter. Chapter 5 explores the integration of assessment with instruction
to best assist student learning.
In Chapter 6, you will read about the diverse student populations in today’s classrooms including students who are English language learners, are gifted, or have special needs. Chapter 7
provides perspectives on the issues related to using technology in the teaching of mathematics. A
strong case is made for the use of handheld technology at all grade levels. Guidance is offered for
the selection and use of computer software and resources on the Internet.
Each chapter of Section II provides a perspective of the mathematical content, how children
best learn that content, and numerous suggestions for problem-based activities to engage children
in the development of good mathematics. The problem-based tasks for students are integrated
within the text, not added on. Reflecting on the activities as you read can help you think about the
mathematics from the perspective of the student. Read them along with the text, not as an aside.
As often as possible, take out pencil and paper and try the problems so that you actively engage in
your learning about children learning mathematics.

Apago PDF Enhancer

SOME SPECIAL FEATURES OF THIS TEXT
By flipping through the book, you will notice many section headings, a large number of figures,
and various special features. All are designed to make the book more useful as a textbook and as a
long-term resource. Here are a few things to look for.

NEW!

MyEducationLab 3
MyEd

New to this edition, you will find margin notes that connect chapter ideas to the
MyEducationLab website (www.myeducationlab.com). Every chapter in Section I
connects to new video clips of John Van de Walle presenting his ideas and activities
to groups of teachers. For a complete list of the new videos of John Van de Walle, see
the inside front cover of your text.
Think of MyEducationLab as an extension of the text. You will find practice test
questions, lists of children’s literature organized by topic, links to useful websites, classroom videos, and videos of John Van de Walle talking with students and teachers. Each
of the Blackline Masters mentioned in the book can be downloaded as a PDF file. You will
also find seven Expanded Lesson plans based on activities in the book. MyEducationLab is
easy to use! In the textbook, look for the MyEducationLab logo in the margins and follow links
to access the multimedia assignments in MyEducationLab that correspond with the chapter
content.

Go to the Activities and Application section of Chapter
3 of MyEducationLab. Click
on Videos and watch the
video entitled “John Van
de Walle on Teaching
Through Problem Solving”
to see him working on a
problem with teachers during a training workshop.

xix

xx

Preface

Big Ideas
Much of the research and literature espousing a student-centered approach suggests that
teachers plan their instruction around “big ideas” rather than isolated skills or concepts. At
the beginning of each chapter in Section II, you will find a list of the key mathematical ideas
associated with the chapter. Teachers find these lists helpful for quickly getting a picture of the
mathematics they are teaching.

Mathematics Content Connections
Following the Big Ideas lists are brief descriptions of other content areas in mathematics that
are related to the content of the current chapter. These lists are offered to help you be more
aware of the potential interaction of content as you plan lessons, diagnose students’ difficulties,
and learn more yourself about the mathematics you are teaching.

388

Z Activities

Chapter 19 Developing Measurement Concepts

of required precision. (Would you measure your lawn to
purchase grass seed with the same precision as you would
use in measuring a window to buy a pane of glass?) Students
need practice in using common sense in the selection of
appropriate standard units.
3. Knowledge of relationships between units. Students
should know those relationships that are commonly used,
such as inches, feet, and yards or milliliters and liters. Tedious conversion exercises do little to enhance measurement sense.

Developing Unit Familiarity. Two types of activities can
help develop familiarity with standard units: (1) comparisons that focus on a single unit and (2) activities that develop personal referents or benchmarks for single units or
easy multiples of units.

Activity 19.21

Developing Decimal Number Sense

333

About
One Unit
for students to learn from the beginning
that decimals
are
simply fractions.
Give students a model of a standard unit, and have
The calculator can also play a significant role in decithem search for objects that measure about the same
mal concept development.

as that one unit. For example, to develop familiarity
with the meter, give students a piece of rope 1 meter
long. Have them make lists of things that are about 1
meter. Keep separate lists for things that are a little
Recall how to make the calculator “count” by
less (or more) or twice as long (or half as long). Enpressing
1
. . . Now have students
students
to find familiar items in their daily
press
0.1
. . . When the courage
display shows
0.9,
stop and discuss what this means lives.
and what
Inthe
thedisplay
case of lengths, be sure to include curved
will look like with the next press. Many students will
or circular lengths. Later, students can try to predict
predict 0.10 (thinking that 10 comes after 9). This
a given
prediction is even more interestingwhether
if, with each
press, object is more than, less than, or
the students have been accumulating
base-ten
close
to 1strips
meter.

Activity 17.3

Calculator Decimal Counting

as models for tenths. One more press would mean
one more strip, or 10 strips. Why should the calculator
same
activity can be done with other unit lengths.
not show 0.10? When the tenth pressThe
produces
a display of 1 (calculators are not usually
set to display
Families
can be enlisted to help students find familiar distrailing zeros to the right of the decimal), the discustances that are about 1 mile or about 1 kilometer. Sugsion should revolve around trading 10 strips for a
a letter
square. Continue to count to 4 gest
or 5 byin
tenths.
How that they check the distances around the
many presses to get from one whole
number to the to the school or shopping center, or along
neighborhood,
next? Try counting by 0.01 or by 0.001. These counts
other frequently traveled paths. If possible, send home (or
illustrate dramatically how small one-hundredth and
use in10class)
one-thousandth really are. It requires
countsaby1-meter or 1-yard trundle wheel to measure
0.001 to get to 0.01 and 1000distances.
counts to reach 1.

For capacity units such as cup, quart, and liter, students
The fact that the calculator need
counts a0.8,
0.9, 1, 1.1 incontainer
that holds or has a marking for a single
stead of 0.8, 0.9, 0.10, 0.11 should give rise to the question
unit. They should then find other containers at home and at
“Does this make sense? If so, why?”
school
that hold
about as much, more, and less. Remember
Calculators that permit entry
of fractions
also have
a fraction-decimal conversion key.
On
some
calculators
that the shapes of acontainers can be very deceptive when
decimal such as 0.25 will convert to the base-ten fraction
estimating their capacity.
25
and allow for either manual or automatic simplification.
100
For
standard
Graphing calculators can be set so that
thethe
conversion
is weights of gram, kilogram, ounce, and
either with or without simplification.
Thestudents
ability of fracpound,
can compare objects on a two-pan balance
tion calculators to go back and forth between fractions and
with single copies of these units. It may be more effective to
decimals makes them a valuable tool as students begin to
work with 10 grams or 5 ounces. Students can be encourconnect fraction and decimal symbolism.

aged to bring in familiar objects from home to compare on
the classroom scale.

Standard area units are in terms of lengths such as
square inches or square feet, so familiarity with lengths is
important. Familiarity with a single degree is not as important as some idea of 30, 45, 60, and 90 degrees.
The second approach to unit familiarity is to begin with
very familiar items and use their measures as references or
benchmarks. A doorway is a bit more than 2 meters high
and a doorknob is about 1 meter from the floor. A bag of
flour is a good reference for 5 pounds. A paper clip weighs
about a gram and is about 1 centimeter wide. A gallon of
milk weighs a little less than 4 kilograms.

Activity 19.22
Familiar References
Use the book Measuring Penny (Leedy, 2000) to get
students interested in the variety of ways familiar
items can be measured. In this book, the author
bridges between nonstandard (e.g., dog biscuits) and
standard units to measure Penny the pet dog. Have
your students use the idea of measuring Penny to find
something at home (or in class) to measure in as many
ways as they can think using standard units. The measures should be rounded to whole numbers (unless
children suggest adding a fractional unit to be more
precise). Discuss in class the familiar items chosen and
their measures so that different ideas and benchmarks
are shared.

The numerous activities found in every chapter of Section
II have always been rated by readers as one of the most
valuable parts of the book. Some activity ideas are described
directly in the text and in the illustrations. Others are
presented in the numbered Activity boxes. Every activity
is a problem-based task (as described in Chapter 3) and is
designed to engage students in doing mathematics. Some
activities incorporate calculator use; these particular activities are marked with a calculator icon.

Apago PDF Enhancer

Of special interest for length are benchmarks found
on our bodies. These become quite familiar over time and
can be used as approximate rulers in many situations. Even
though young children grow quite rapidly, it is useful for
them to know the approximate lengths that they carry
around with them.

Teaching Con

siderations

Activity 19.23
Personal Benchmarks
Measure your body. About how long is your foot, your
stride, your hand span (stretched and with fingers together), the width of your finger, your arm span (finger to finger and finger to nose), the distance around
your wrist and around your waist, and your height to
waist, to shoulder, and to head? Some may prove to
be useful benchmarks, and some may be excellent
models for single units. (The average child’s fingernail
width is about 1 cm, and most people can find a
10-cm length somewhere on their hands.)

To help remember these references, they must be used
in activities in which lengths, volumes, and so on are compared to the benchmarks to estimate measurements.

Investigations in Number,
Data, and Space and
Connected Mathematics 3
In Section II, four chapters include features that
describe an activity from the standards-based curriculum Investigations in Number, Data, and Space (an
elementary curriculum) or Connected Mathematics
Project (CMP II) (a middle school curriculum). These
features include a description of an activity in the
program as well as the context of the unit in which it is
found. The main purpose of this feature is to acquaint
you with these materials and to demonstrate how the
spirit of the NCTM Standards and the constructivist
theory espoused in this book have been translated into
existing commercial curricula.

Grade 7, Varia

Context
Much of this
unit is built on
the context of
a group of stud
ents who take
a multiday bike
trip from Phil
adelphia to Wil
liamsburg, Virginia, and who
then decide to
set up a bike
tour business
of their own.
Students expl
a variety of func
ore
tional relation
ships between
time, distance
, speed, expe
nses, profits,
so on. When
and
data are plot
ted as discrete
points, students
consider wha
t the graph
might look like
between poin
ts. For example,
what interpre
tations could
be given to each
of these five
graphs showing
speed change
from 0 to 15
mph in the first
10 minutes of
a trip?

Investigation

bles and Patte

rns

3: Analyzing Gra

phs and Tables

Area

377

Task Descrip

tion

In this investig
ation, the ficti
onal students
in the unit beg
an gathering
data in preparation for setti
ng up their tour
business. As
their first task
, they sought
data from two
ferent bike rent
difal companies
as shown here
given by one
s, company in the
,
le
g
n
A
form
eter,and by the other in the form of of a table
a graph. The
task is interest
, Perim
3
e
ing
d
beca
use of the first
Gra
way in which
han
a
d
stud
ents eas rien
ce the value
of one represen ent of idexpe
and Are
tation overisan