Subject: Educators suggesting students practice graphing

Posted by Alan Ticotsky on 9/11/2011

Message:

Recently I have read two articles in major publications that suggest students should practice graphing. While this seems obvious to those of us who subscribe to this group, significant numbers of students aren't guided toward visualizing data and equations through graphing activities.

Maybe teachers will be urged to help students discover generic structures through frequent work with graphing as the new academic year kicks off The New York Times ( “Brain Calisthenics for Abstract Ideas” June 6, 2011) article at the address below links to some promising programs students can use to visualize math concepts.



A second article I recommend was published in the September 2011 edition of Science Scope, the middle school journal of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). In “Developing Intuitive Reasoning with Graphs to Support Science Arguments,” David Grueber emphasizes the constructivist aspect of having students articulate their claims with arguments that include graphs. Grueber gives several examples, including some that apply the algebraic proportional equation [y=mx + b] in very different situations – an excellent use of a generic structure with students. As schools work to comply with Common Core Standards, Grueber’s opinion that graphing promotes higher level thinking is another reinforcing voice.

I have been unable to find a free link to Grueber’s article. Members of NSTA can read it on the website but so far it is copyright protected.

Do others have references and suggestions to share for graphing activities?

Alan Ticotsky