Teaching Algebraic Notation

Helping students develop meaningful fluency in algebraic notation can help them apply their reasoning skills and can decrease “algebra anxiety,” as the symbols and grammar start to become meaningful and familiar. Melissa Braaten has created a three-part resource that reviews the meaning of notation in algebra, discusses some common student misunderstandings, and offers teaching strategies for promoting lasting student comprehension.

Download the Teaching Algebraic Notation PDF Resource

Part 1 discusses how to help students transition from arithmetic notation for multiplication and division to multiplication and division notation more commonly used in algebra.

Part 2 provides suggestions for helping students understand the structure of complex expressions, especially expressions with parentheses. Part of this approach involves helping students look at the “big picture” structure of the expression first, then zooming in before they start to calculate (“outside-in”).  This is a more intuitive and conceptual alternative to teaching PEMDAS for order of operations.

Part 3 delves into difficulties that students often have when learning to use and interpret variables in algebraic expressions. It includes suggestions for helping students develop a conceptual understanding of a variable and how it is used to describe mathematical relationships in the real world.

Melissa Braaten is an adult education instructor at Catholic Charities Haitian Multi-Services Center in Dorchester, MA. Melissa has taught ASE and pre-ASE math and reading, as well as ABE writing, computer skills, and health classes. Melissa also is a training and curriculum development specialist for the SABES Mathematics and Adult Numeracy Curriculum & Instruction PD Team at TERC. She is the author of many articles for Math Musings, our Adult Numeracy blog.