Problem-solving and communication of ideas in Mathematics lessons at the primary school

Abstract

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14244/198271991390

This paper, which is part of a Master’s degree thesis, focuses on a discussion about the communication of ideas generated by problem-solving situations in Mathematics classes of Elementary School. The historical-cultural perspective is adopted as the theoretical basis for the work. The analysis is centered in situations occurred during the data production for the documentation of the research along 2009. The documentation process was held at a multi?grade (4th and 5th grades) classroom (a class composed of children from two or more grade levels) from the rural area of the municipality of Atibaia, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, and consists of transcriptions of audio recordings and notes from the students. The results reveal how a problem-solving context in Maths lessons can contribute to the production of mathematical meanings by children.

Keywords: Problem-solving situations, Mediation, Communication of ideas.