Third Grade Students’ Use of Relational Thinking

Current mathematics curricula have as one of their fundamental objectives the development number sense. This is understood a set skills. Some them an algebraic nature such acquiring abstract understanding relations between numbers, developing awareness properties and structure decimal system using it in strategic manner. In this framework, term relational thinking directs attention towards way working with arithmetic expressions that promotes terms use properties. A teaching experiment has allowed to characterize which third grade students type for solving equalities by distinguishing four profiles use. These inform about how employ solve equalities. They also ease description evolution along sessions classroom. Uses different sophistication are distinguished depending on whether general known rule applied, or used flexible way. Results contribute process component