Questioning Zero and Negative Numbers

Abstract

Last year, I was fortunate enough to take the Developing Mathematical Ideas (DMI) course on algebraic reasoning taught by Ruth Balf from the University of Washington, Seattle. DMI deepens participants' mathematics knowledge while also modeling how to listen to students and ask the right questions at the right time. As Willis and others note, “When students are learning mathematics, they use their existing knowledge and understandings to make sense of new ideas” (2007, p. 22). DMI allows teachers to uncover that existing knowledge. One of the primary messages is that children can and do construct their own meaning behind many complicated mathematical procedures and concepts. Taking a DMI course allows participants to return to their own classrooms and students with a fresh perspective.