Please discuss Importance of justifying ideas in mathematics as an apprach to use in the early grades mathematics. This must include examples from literature
This is what I have so far:
The study by Desoete et al. (2001) involving
165 Grade 3 learners revealed that learners struggle to articulate coherent
solutions and explain their problem-solving methods. The researchers found that
learners heavily rely on direct teacher instructions for methods and procedures
to solve problems, highlighting the need to deepen mathematical understanding
and critical thinking skills in learners (Desoete et al., 2001). To enhance
learners’ mathematical abilities, it is crucial to encourage independent
exploration of problem-solving strategies and effective communication of
reasoning (Desoete et al., 2001). The approach of justifying ideas can be used
to improve conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts (YILMAZ et al.,
2019) and as a tool to enhance critical thinking. This process involves
learners providing reasons as to why a mathematical statement is correct or
incorrect, and explaining and articulating their actions, perceptions, and
thought processes when solving a math problem (YILMAZ et al., 2019). This aligns
with the findings of Desoete et al. (2001) that emphasize the importance of
learners developing the ability to communicate their reasoning and thinking
processes when solving mathematical problems.
