National Academies Press: OpenBook
« Previous: Appendix 3. Convocation and Action Conference Participant Lists
Suggested Citation:"Appendix 4. Marcy's Dots." National Research Council. 2000. Mathematics Education in the Middle Grades: Teaching to Meet the Needs of Middle Grades Learners and to Maintain High Expectations: Proceedings of a National Convocation and Action Conferences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9764.
×
Page 239
Suggested Citation:"Appendix 4. Marcy's Dots." National Research Council. 2000. Mathematics Education in the Middle Grades: Teaching to Meet the Needs of Middle Grades Learners and to Maintain High Expectations: Proceedings of a National Convocation and Action Conferences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9764.
×
Page 240
Suggested Citation:"Appendix 4. Marcy's Dots." National Research Council. 2000. Mathematics Education in the Middle Grades: Teaching to Meet the Needs of Middle Grades Learners and to Maintain High Expectations: Proceedings of a National Convocation and Action Conferences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9764.
×
Page 241
Suggested Citation:"Appendix 4. Marcy's Dots." National Research Council. 2000. Mathematics Education in the Middle Grades: Teaching to Meet the Needs of Middle Grades Learners and to Maintain High Expectations: Proceedings of a National Convocation and Action Conferences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9764.
×
Page 242
Suggested Citation:"Appendix 4. Marcy's Dots." National Research Council. 2000. Mathematics Education in the Middle Grades: Teaching to Meet the Needs of Middle Grades Learners and to Maintain High Expectations: Proceedings of a National Convocation and Action Conferences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9764.
×
Page 243
Suggested Citation:"Appendix 4. Marcy's Dots." National Research Council. 2000. Mathematics Education in the Middle Grades: Teaching to Meet the Needs of Middle Grades Learners and to Maintain High Expectations: Proceedings of a National Convocation and Action Conferences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9764.
×
Page 244

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

,`~..~..~.r.. I A. MARCY'S DOTS Participant Handout A pattern of clots is shown below. At each step, more clots are aclclecl to the pattern. The number of clots aclclecl at each step is more than the number aclclecl in the previous step. The pattern continues infinitely. ( 1 St step) (2n~ step) (try step) 2 Dots · · · 6 Dots 1 2 Dots Marcy has to determine the number of clots in the 20th step, but she does not want to clraw all 20 pictures and then count them. Explain or show how she could clo this and give the answer that Marcy should get for the number of clots. Dicl you use the calculator on this question? ~ Yes ~ No SOURCE: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1992 Mathematics Assessment

Sample student responses - - te-n Unit ~ of et ~ 5 , - 4~ I' I~ 5~. - , L. =~ - er ~ ~4 t~ - th~ Ah ~ ~ &M pve r~ ~ t~' ~ ~ ~ 5G Ail 30 16 ~0 - 930d~b ~4 `~ -1~^ MY ,~. . _~O Ad. , ~- - ~ ~ ~ - - ~ ~J ~- = \~ -15 - ~ -- ~ - - - t ~ a_ _~r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Aft 411;, ~ ~q ~ ~O ~ ~ ~t t~+ q~ +~ - )~? ~ Iowa 11~ yet Q0 ~ ~S m~Y ~ ~ 6 of ~ S-.F~ ~` : Am - ' ~` ~,~ ~ ~ £~ ~ ~: ~ $ I__ f ~ ~ ac~ {~: fop ~: ~ plot ]: ~/ /~l topic 93 4~4 ~ ~ Bed ~` BETA ~, ~50 ~ , Ct ~ ~ 4 4~t~ L it- ~ Ins ~ ~ ,~ x ~ ~ ~1 to ,: - At. - ~. APPE N DIX 4 O~ cocci - arc cat on ¢0 ~0` ]0 4 ~ ~)0 ~:-~3 $= 1 ~ - 1.~ 2~........ ~ z.~.

~LT~Pu~ ~ ~ - ~ `~ h t ~" h 0~' ~-0 SOFT \t Fly +~t~ ~^ -Gil dh, it_ ~ ~Q ~AFT hats ~ =$ t~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - ~9 _ ~Q,1 ~:~ : `4~ - aft ' l ~Rho ~ OF ~ 1 r ~ ~5 a. ~ I; ~ ~- -~4 ~ ~ ~ ~' ~if ~ ~4 ~ _~ ~ ~ _> (~r 2) 76 . ~ Of _ e, ~ - ~5 ~- ~ -· -,_ ~__[/~ ~ ~ h ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 3 ~ ~ it. - Ivy -~h~ Bet I,_ ~ -~ C~3 . ~ ~ ~ ~ =~ ~ h ~ ~ ~ ~] ~ ~ ~Ash oh ch ~ T' ?~ I, ~-~ ~ ~ ~& -A - Aim' MARCY'S DOT ACTIVITY ~r 4~ ~ t ~ }6 ~ $ ~ - t ~i bard ~ Ah ~I oh ~ ~ ~ ~ The ~;l ~ ~ ~ ~ 6~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 5 ~ ~ _ ~ ~ ~ ~i ~ ~ p ~ 7h ~ r~w ~ ~ ;< 2 ~ 9, ~I LIZ L I Hi-` ~ 3 ~ d 1 %., {] ~ ~T g ~h ~ ~ I ~ 1 3 hxr I ~ ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ 3-i5 i Ah4`tO 4~ 2t0r7~'F ~lv 4 x l ~ l xl I ~ 16 1 (7.~X; l ~l l'r;~1, ~ld ~e =~$( ~h i~ 11 II5lT th~ C~ ~ 1 ~ h Oh 4n ch~ ~ 4um ~ i 0 n i ~ ~1 ~ ~ ~ ~ Ol5, ~~O ;~ 5~$~` $~' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ T'~ ~ ~ i ~ 39 3~ ~ t`~ ~ ,5~ ~ ~ ~ t d~ ~

FaciIitator's guicIe for the Marcy's Dots activity Marcy's Dots 1. To get participants involved in thinking about content and learning, have them solve Marcy's Dots, a prob- lem in the content area of algebra and function from the 1992 National Assess- ment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Grade ~ Test. About 20% of the test for grade ~ assessed algebra and function, and this is Apical of an extended con- structed-response question. The following information might be shared after or at an appropriate time during the discussion. Do not start off with this but use it after people have become engaged and come to some conclusions about the problem and about the ways students found their solutions. Only 6% of the students provided a satisfactory or better re- sponse; 6% provided a generalization; 10% made some attempt at a pattern; 63% provided inaccurate or irrelevant information; and 16% did not respond. (Remember that this test is a no stakes test for students.) 2. Investigate Student responses. Points that might be made in the .. . cl~scuss~on: Wrong answers usually occurred because they had the wrong notion of the pattern. APPE N AX 4 Student ~ alternated between adding 4 and adding 6. Student 5 multiplied by 3 then by 2 as the pattern. Student 7 multiplied by 3 then by 2. Student 12 increased by multiplying by2. No recognition of pattern: · Student 9 added the numbers in the problems. · Student 3 added 6, the last set of dots. Right Answers: · Student 2 used the pattern within the pattern and the picture; wrote out all steps (recursion). · Student 4 used relation between rows and columns and was able to general- ize to a rule. . Student 6 used relation between rows and columns from picture and was able to generalize to a rule. · Student ~ used the pattern within the pattern: recursively adding two more each time (4, 6, 8, ...) Student 10 focused on relationship between rows and columns, wrote out all steps (recursion). · Student 11 used relationship numbers and was able to generalize to a rule. .

3. Discuss the problem from the perspective of its role in the middle grades mathematics curriculum. How does the plenary session on content and learning relate to the problem? How does the problem fit into the larger picture of algebra and algebraic reason- ing? Why is it important for students to recognize and be able to work with patterns? 4. Hand out the excerpts from the draft section of the middle grades algebra section from "Principles and Standards for School Mathematics: Discussion Draft," the Standards 2000 MARCY'S DOT ACTIVITY draft being prepared for dissemination, comment and input this fall. Provide a few minutes for people to read the excerpts. How does the mathematics in this task relate to the discussion of algebra in the document? Resources for Marcy's Dots Dossey, I.A, Mullis, I.V.S., & [ones, C.O. (1993~. Can students do mathematical problem solving? resavltsirom constra~cted-response questions in NAEP's 1992 Mathematics Assessment. Washington, DC: National Center for Educa- tion Statistics. Kenny, P.A, Zawojewski, J.S., & Silver, E.A (1998~. Marcy's Dot Problem. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 367}, 474-477.

TABLE 2. ~ ~ National Results for Demographic Subgroups for the Extenclecl-Response Task, Marcy's Dot Pattern, Gracle 8 No Satisfactory Response Incorrect Minimal Partial Satisfactory Extended or Better Nation 16(1.0) 63(1.3) 10(0.7) 6(0.7) 1 (0.2) 5(0.6) 6(0.7) Northeast 18(3.2) 61 (3.2) 10(1.9) 4(0.7) 2(0.5) 6(1.8) 8(1.6) Southeast 20(2.0) 6A (2.2) 9(1.5) 3 (07) 1 (oh) ~ (1.1) ~ (1.3) Central 10(1.5) 65(2.1) 10(1.~) 8(1.~) 1 (oh) 6(1.1) 7(1.~) West 16(2.0) 62(2.8) 10(1.1) 7(1.8) 0(0.2) ~ (1.1) ~ (1.1) White 12(1.1) 63(1.5) 11 (0.8) 7(0.8) 1 (0.2) 6(0.8) 8(0.9) Black 2A (2.9) 67(2 9) 6 (1.6) 2 (0.9) 0 (0.0) 1 (o.5) 1 (o.5) Hispanic 28(2.8) 61 (3.1) 7(2.0) 3(1.2) 0(00) 1 (o.5) 1 (o.5) Male 19(1.5) 63(2.2) 8(1.0) 5(0.9) 1 (0.2) 5(0.9) 5(09) Female 13(1.2) 63(1.6) 12(1.1) 6(1.0) 1 (o.3) 5(0.8) 6(0.9) Advantaged Urban 8(2.9) 62(5.1) 10(1.9) 6(1.6) 1 (0.6) 11 (2.5) 13(2.6) Disadvantaged Urban 32 (3.9) 59 (A 7) ~ (1.3) ~ (1.9) 1 (0.6) 1 (o.5) 1 (o.7) Extreme Rural 16(2.9) 69(3.6) 8(2.3) 2(1.1) 1 (o.7) A(2.0) 5(2.3) Other 15 (1.3) 62 (1.5) 11 (0.9) 6 (0.9) 1 (0.2) ~ (0.7) 5 (0.7) Public 16(1.2) 64(1.4) 9(0.8) 6(0~7) ~ (0.2) 4(0.6) 5(0.6) Catholic and Other Private 11 (1.7) 56(2.7) 12(1.6) 7(1.2) 2(0.9) 10(2.2) 13(2.0) The standard errors of the estimated percentages appear in parentheses. It can be said with about 95 percent certainty that for each population of interest, the value for the whole population is within plus or minus two standard errors of the estimate for the sample. In comparing two estimates, one must use the standard error of the difference (see Appendix for details). When the proportion of students is either 0 percent or 100 percent, the standard error is inestimable. However, percentages 99.5 percent and greater were rounded to 100 percent and percentages 0.5 percent or less were rounded to 0 percent. Percentages may not total 100 percent due to rounding error. SOURCE: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1992 Mathematics Assessment APPE N DIX 4

Next: Appendix 5. Discussion Session Worksheets »
Mathematics Education in the Middle Grades: Teaching to Meet the Needs of Middle Grades Learners and to Maintain High Expectations: Proceedings of a National Convocation and Action Conferences Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $70.00 Buy Ebook | $54.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

In September 1998, the Math Science Education Board National held a Convocation on Middle Grades Mathematics that was co-sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Middle School Association, and the American Educational Research Association. The Convocation was structured to present the teaching of middle school mathematics from two points of view: teaching mathematics with a focus on the subject matter content or teaching mathematics with a focus on the whole child and whole curriculum. This book discusses the challenges before the nation's mathematical sciences community to focus its energy on the improvement of middle grades mathematics education and to begin an ongoing national dialogue on middle grades mathematics education.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!