PROCEEDINGS OF THE 17TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2014
Denver, Colorado
Measurement Definitions for Elementary School Teachers: Links to Graduate Level Mathematics
Page: 1006
Undergraduates planning to be teachers often encounter mathematics content textbooks written specifically for preservice teachers. Elementary mathematics textbooks of this kind provide in-depth definitions of elementary school mathematics to foster deeper understanding of these basic concepts. I looked at measurement definitions (length, area, and volume) across six preservice textbooks and identified overarching themes, using an open coding method. The following themes emerged across the set of definitions: discrete/continuous, unit, no overlaps/full cover, interior/exterior, function, measurement as an attribute, and space filling. This links to graduate level mathematics and has implications for preservice teachers and their future elementary students.