Algebraic thinking in elementary grades: possibilities with blind and non-blind students

Abstract

This postdoctoral project aims to investigate aspects of the development of algebraic thinking with blind and non-blind students that can contribute to mathematics teaching practices regarding the inclusion and promotion of learning opportunities in the early years of elementary school. The guiding research question is: “What are the potentialities and challenges of the development of algebraic thinking with blind and non-blind students in the early years of elementary school?”. Centered on a qualitative approach, this project will have as a context of data production two classrooms from the early years of elementary school in a public school in the city of Belém, PA, Brazil, in which blind and non-blind students are enrolled. The initial criterion of choosing two classes participating in the research will be to have blind students enrolled in a regular class, as well as the availability of class teachers to discuss the texts and elaborate and develop tasks that involve the development of algebraic thinking. For this purpose, classes will be monitored for three months, considering the school’s availability. The data will be produced using the field diary, audio recordings, and video recordings of mathematics classes. During the data analysis, the videos and audios will be revisited several times, seeking to identify elements that help us respond to the research objective, and these will be transcribed and analyzed. We hope that the results of this study will contribute to the construction of inclusive educational practices in the early years of elementary school that enable blind and non-blind students to understand the fundamental concepts involved in the development of algebraic thinking.