MODEL

Math 7-10

Systems Change
Math 7-10

About This Model

The goals for students’ math skills in Grades 7-10 include strengthening their abstract reasoning and constructing and communicating arguments using math. Understanding the Learner Factors and strategies that impact math skills and how they connect to each other can help you build tools and lessons that support all learners.

Our research highlights several key themes about teaching and learning Math at the 7-10 level

Adolescence brings growth and learning opportunities.

With adolescence, students’ Physical Well-being becomes closely linked to their learning as both their bodies and brains go through a period of growth.

Paying close attention to mental health and the amount of Sleep students are getting, in addition to encouraging mindfulness, are key to managing stress. Students are also gaining greater Social Awareness & Relationship Skills in addition to becoming more interested in the world around them. - Making real-world connections to their interests can keep them motivated in math class and increase their sense of belonging.

Cognitive skills support generalizing mathematical concepts.

Being able to generalize mathematical concepts becomes a key component of success as math becomes increasingly complex.

Working with students using error analysis can deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts, including Algebraic Thinking which focuses on the relationships between numbers. Students’ Reasoning skills are continuing to develop, allowing them to think abstractly, draw inferences, and identify patterns. - Visualizing how ideas fit together using a graphic organizer can help students find patterns, and scaffolds Working Memory by outsourcing some of the memory demands of the task.

Students analyze and represent spatial relationships, a key skill for advanced math.

Geometric Reasoning involves using abstract thinking to analyze and make arguments about shapes and spatial relationships.

It can be a gateway to other higher-order math thinking skills such Statistical Reasoning. - Creating their own diagrams and other visual representations can help students develop the skills needed to reason about geometric diagrams and spatial relationships. Spatial Skills are used to mentally manipulate numbers and objects, underlying much of students’ math thinking and their math success. - Representing concepts spatially, including using gestures, can facilitate students’ thinking about mathematical ideas and support Geometric Reasoning.

The Research Behind This Model

To create each Learner Variability Project Learner Model, we follow a systematic methodology led by our expert researchers. The process is also overseen by an advisory board of leading content area and learning sciences experts.

Advisory Board for Math 7-10

These leading researchers supported the development of the Math 7-10 Learner Model.

Maria Blanton, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist, TERC

Susan Empson, Ph.D.

Professor of Learning, Teaching & Curriculum, University of Missouri

Gerardo Ramirez, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology, Ball State University

Bethany Rittle-Johnson, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology & Human Development, Vanderbilt University

Jeremy Roschelle, Ph.D.

Executive Director of Learning Sciences Research, Digital Promise Global
Math 7-10

Adolescence brings growth and learning opportunities.

With adolescence, students’ Physical Well-being becomes closely linked to their learning as both their bodies and brains go through a period of growth.

Paying close attention to mental health and the amount of Sleep students are getting, in addition to encouraging mindfulness, are key to managing stress. Students are also gaining greater Social Awareness & Relationship Skills in addition to becoming more interested in the world around them. - Making real-world connections to their interests can keep them motivated in math class and increase their sense of belonging.

Cognitive skills support generalizing mathematical concepts.

Being able to generalize mathematical concepts becomes a key component of success as math becomes increasingly complex.

Working with students using error analysis can deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts, including Algebraic Thinking which focuses on the relationships between numbers. Students’ Reasoning skills are continuing to develop, allowing them to think abstractly, draw inferences, and identify patterns. - Visualizing how ideas fit together using a graphic organizer can help students find patterns, and scaffolds Working Memory by outsourcing some of the memory demands of the task.

Students analyze and represent spatial relationships, a key skill for advanced math.

Geometric Reasoning involves using abstract thinking to analyze and make arguments about shapes and spatial relationships.

It can be a gateway to other higher-order math thinking skills such Statistical Reasoning. - Creating their own diagrams and other visual representations can help students develop the skills needed to reason about geometric diagrams and spatial relationships. Spatial Skills are used to mentally manipulate numbers and objects, underlying much of students’ math thinking and their math success. - Representing concepts spatially, including using gestures, can facilitate students’ thinking about mathematical ideas and support Geometric Reasoning.

Next:

Adolescence brings growth and learning opportunities.

View Theme 2

Next:

Cognitive skills support generalizing mathematical concepts.

View Theme 3

Next:

Students analyze and represent spatial relationships, a key skill for advanced math.

View Theme 1