Last week in Mr. Fatigante’s sixth grade classes, students began learning how to solve one-step equations. They started by using counter chips to represent positive and negative numbers. After two days of working with the counters, students transitioned to solving the equations algebraically.
The purpose of using counter chips is to help students see what is happening when solving an equation. Once they understand the visual model, they are better prepared to apply the same steps algebraically.
“Students did an excellent job connecting the counter chip representations to the process of solving one-step equations,” Mr. Fatigante said, adding, “As students progress through middle school, they will encounter more complex equations. This work served as a strong foundation for their future understanding of equation solving.”