Developing mathematical understanding

The notion of scaffolding is used to introduce research on differentiated learning trajectories that make use of activities termed 'prompts'. The prompts are used to enable children to develop the necessary mathematical understanding and skills to keep up with the rest of the class.  They focus on aspects of teaching that teachers identified as important aspects of classroom interactivity that contribute to the understanding: the use of physical representation of concepts: actions aimed at building conceptual links; and the use of language based activity.