Konkretiseringsmateriell og dets rolle i matematikklæring på småskoletrinnet : en studie av elever på 2. trinn og deres arbeid med addisjon og subtraksjon

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate what role manipulativesmay havein mathematics teaching at the primary schoollevel. I study how the pupilssolve various addition and subtraction tasks withthe use ofmanipulatives. Furthermore, I analysewhat characterises the pupils ́ use of the manipulativesused by the students.The research strategy is qualitative and throughobservation I follow a few pupilsin the second grade. Thepupilswork with addition and subtraction at different stations where they make use of manipulatives.The research questions that are the foundation of this study are the following:1.What role do themanipulativesplayin the learning process of second gradepupils when dealing with addition and subtraction tasks?2.What characterises the second graders ́ use of manipulativeswhen workingwith additionand subtraction tasks?The results showthat the manipulativesused in this class playseveral roles: a role of concretizing, a role of illustrating, a role of motivating and a role making the mathematics learning playful. These roles help support the pupils ́learning opportunities as well as the pupils ́ engagement. From a sociocultural perspective, pupilslearn in interaction with each other and the results show that the language has an important role when the pupils use manipulatives. The pupils ́ use of the manipulatives is characterised by in what ways they count the bricks as well as their counting strategies in solving addition and subtraction tasks.