National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2013 Research Presession

Please note: The NCTM conference program is subject to change.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013: 10:30 AM
Room 110/112 (Colorado Convention Center)
Caroline J Hagen , Tufts University, Medford, MA
Yi-Yin Ko , Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
Description:
We investigate teachers’ perspectives on the role that proof and mathematical reasoning can play in middle school (grades 6–9) through semistructured interviews. Results suggest that teachers think narrowly about the nature and purpose of proof. Although they believe that reasoning skills, including making conjectures and generalizations, are critical, barriers exist to including them in instruction.