Preparing Elementary Pre-Service Teachers to Teach Early Algebra: A Conceptual Replication Study

Early algebra can prepare elementary students for the transition they will need to make from arithmetic and algebra. Although teacher preparation programs emphasize the teaching of early algebra, research on how to prepare elementary pre-service teachers (PSTs) to teach early algebra is still scarce. The replication study reported in this article was a conceptual replication study designed to examine Iranian PSTs' reasoning about pre-symbolic early algebra by looking at what was more, somewhat, and less challenging. The aims of the replication study aligned with the original study (Hohensee, 2017). Results from the replication study show that participating PSTs (N = 15) found the early algebra approach to variables and functions more challenging, indeterminable unknowns somewhat challenging, and equivalence and equations less challenging. We make comparisons with the original study, as well as offer implications and suggestions for preparing PSTs to teach early algebra.