PME-NA

Middle Grade Students' Interpretations of Cartesian Axes Labels

• In Event: Middle Grade Students' Interpretations of Cartesian Axes Labels

Description

This paper examines some ways middle schoolers interpreted pre-made Cartesian graph axes labels and how this thinking interacted with their constructions of reference frames and coordinate systems. We illustrate several examples of students’ interpretations along with providing detailed analyses of their thinking. We argue that axes labels can hold many unique meanings despite their simplicity on the surface, leading us to re-consider task design and how to anticipate and acknowledge the power of student thinking within such tasks.

Authors

• Brandi Rygaard Gaspard, Texas State University

• Hwa Young Lee, Texas State University

• Grace Morrell, Texas State University

• Holly Zolt, Middle Tennessee State University

• Mai Bui, Texas State University

• Hamilton Hardison, Texas State University

• Teo Paoletti, University of Delaware