Mathematical Misconceptions
A Guide for Primary Teachers
- Anne D Cockburn - University of East Anglia, UK
- Graham Littler - University of Derby, UK
With contributors comprised of teachers, teacher educators, mathematicians and psychologists, Mathematical Misconceptions brings together information about pupils' work from four different countries, and looks at how children, from the ages of 3 - 11, think about numbers and use them. It explores the reasons for their successes, misunderstandings and misconceptions, while also broadening the reader's own mathematical knowledge. Chapters explore:
- the seemingly paradoxical number zero
- the concept of equality
- children's perceptions and misconceptions of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing
- the learning process
- the ways in which children acquire number concepts.
This unique book will transform the way in which primary school teachers think about mathematics. Fascinating reading for anyone working with children of this age, it will be of particular interest to teachers, trainee teachers and teaching assistants. It will show them how to engage children in the mysteries and delights of numbers.
'This book is a really interesting and useful volume...Each chapter has many questions, helpfully highlighted in boxes, so that the reader has the opportunity to pause and reflect. For me these questions turn this book from being good to excellent. Encouragingme to take the time to think about my own practice helps this book ask difficult but interesting questions. [It] is clearly aimed at primary teachers but I'm sure that secondary teachers would benefit hugely from this as well...I'm sure it will prompt useful and interesting discussions' -
Association of Teachers of Mathematics
'As a secondary teacher of mathematics I've found this a remarkable insight into the student's thinking - giving me clear background information to help me think about my classes and their misconceptions and how I could help the children develop their thinking' -
Association of Teachers of Mathematics
'This book is a really interesting and useful volume...Each chapter has many questions, helpfully highlighted in boxes, so that the reader has the opportunity to pause and reflect. For me these questions turn this book from being good to excellent. Encouragingme to take the time to think about my own practice helps this book ask difficult but interesting questions. [It] is clearly aimed at primary teachers but I'm sure that secondary teachers would benefit hugely from this as well...I'm sure it will prompt useful and interesting discussions' -
Association of Teachers of Mathematics
'As a secondary teacher of mathematics I've found this a remarkable insight into the student's thinking - giving me clear background information to help me think about my classes and their misconceptions and how I could help the children develop their thinking' -
Association of Teachers of Mathematics
Provides relevant misconceptions students may not have realised are caused by how they word explanations to children.
A clear guide to the role of misconceptions in children's mathematical development.
Used as recommended reading for inclusion elements of BA and PGCE coures
Opportunities for all those involved in the education of primary aged children, whatever their role, to develop their understanding of the nature and basis of many mathematical misconceptions.
Effective personal engagement of the reader with regular opportunities to reflect on their own experience with 'pause for thought' feature and to extend their own thinking through 'challenges'.
Recommended specifically as reading for a task unpacking children's misconceptions
