Effects of Three Interventions on Children's Spatial Structuring and Coordination of Area Units
We examine the effects of 3 interventions designed to support Grades 2–5 children's growth in measuring rectangular regions in different ways. We employed the microgenetic method to observe and describe conceptual transitions and investigate how they may have been prompted by the interventions. We compared the interventions with respect to children's learning and then examined patterns in observable behaviors before and after transitions to more sophisticated levels of thinking according to a learning trajectory for area measurement. Our findings indicate that creating a complete record of the structure of the 2-dimensional array—by drawing organized rows and columns of equal-sized unit squares—best supported children in conceptualizing how units were built, organized, and coordinated, leading to improved performance.
Contributor Notes
Amanda L. Cullen, Department of Mathematics, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4520, Normal, IL 61790; almille@ilstu.edu
Cheryl L. Eames, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Campus Box 1653; 40 Hairpin Dr., Edwardsville, IL 62026; ceames@siue.edu
Craig J. Cullen, Department of Mathematics, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4520, Normal, IL 61790; cjculle@ilstu.edu
Jeffrey E. Barrett, Department of Mathematics, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4520, Normal, IL 61790; jbarrett@ilstu.edu
Julie Sarama, Morgridge College of Education, Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy, Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall 154, 1999 East Evans Avenue, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208-1700; Julie.Sarama@du.edu
Douglas H. Clements, Morgridge College of Education, Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy, Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall 154, 1999 East Evans Avenue, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208-1700; Douglas.Clements@du.edu
Douglas W. Van Dine, Marzano Research, 12577 East Caley Avenue, Centennial, CO 80111-6432; douglas.vandine@marzanoresearch.com
