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Thirteen Rules That Expire: Number

The document lists 13 common mathematical rules and concepts taught to children. It discusses how some of these rules and the language used to describe them can expire or become outdated as children's mathematical understanding develops. In particular, it notes that terms like "borrowing", "carrying", and "reducing fractions" may eventually cause confusion if not clarified. The document advocates using more precise language that describes the mathematical concepts without potential misconceptions.

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237 views3 pages

Thirteen Rules That Expire: Number

The document lists 13 common mathematical rules and concepts taught to children. It discusses how some of these rules and the language used to describe them can expire or become outdated as children's mathematical understanding develops. In particular, it notes that terms like "borrowing", "carrying", and "reducing fractions" may eventually cause confusion if not clarified. The document advocates using more precise language that describes the mathematical concepts without potential misconceptions.

Uploaded by

lijyonas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Thirteen Rules that Expire

1. When you multiply a number by 10 just add a zero to the end of the
number.

2. Use keywords to solve word problems.

3. You can’t take a bigger number from a smaller number

4. Addition and multiplication make numbers bigger.

5. Subtraction and division make numbers smaller.

6. You always divide the larger number by the smaller number.

7. Two negatives make a positive.

8. Multiply everything inside the parentheses by the number outside the


parentheses.

9. Improper fractions should always be written as a mixed number.

10. The number you say first in counting is always less than the number that
comes next.

11. The longer the number, the larger the number.

12. Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.

13. The equal sign means find the answer or write the answer.

Karp, K., Bush, S., & Dougherty, B. J. (2014) 13 rules that expire! Teaching
Children Mathematics.
Expired Mathematical Language

What is stated What should be stated

Using the words borrowing Use trading or regrouping to indicate the actual
or carrying when action of trading or exchanging one place value unit
subtracting or adding, for another unit.
respectively

Using the phrase ___ out


of __ to describe a fraction Use the fraction and the attribute. (For example, of
(For example, one out of the length of the string.) The out of language often
causes students to think a part is being subtracted
seven to describe .)
from the whole amount (Philipp, Cabral, and
Schappelle, 2005).

Using the words reducing Use simplifying fractions. The language reducing
fractions gives students the incorrect impression that the
fraction is getting smaller or being reduced in size.

Asking how shapes are Ask, How are these shapes the same? How are the
similar when children are shapes different? By using the word similar in these
comparing a set of shapes situations, there can be eventual confusion with the
mathematical meaning of similar that will be
introduced in middle school relating to geometric
figures.

Reading the = as makes Read the equation 2 + 2 = 4 as 2 + 2 equals or is


(For example, 2 + 2 the same as 4. The language make encourages the
makes 4 for 2 + 2 = 4.) misconception that the equal sign is an action or an
operation rather than representing a relationship.

Indicating that a number Say that a number divides another number a whole
divides evenly into another number of times or it divides without a remainder.
number

Plugging a number into an Use substitute values for an unknown.


expression or equation

Using top number and A fraction should be seen as one number, not two
bottom number to describe separate numbers. Use the words numerator and
the numerator and denominator when discussing the different parts of
denominator of a fraction, a fraction.

Karp, K., Bush, S., & Dougherty, B. J. (2014) 13 rules that expire! Teaching
Children Mathematics.
respectively

Karp, K., Bush, S., & Dougherty, B. J. (2014) 13 rules that expire! Teaching
Children Mathematics.

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