Examination of 6th grade students' misconceptions about algebraic expressions

In this study, it is aimed to determine the misconceptions of 6th grade students about algebraic expressions. In this study, a case study model, one of the qualitative research designs, was used. The study group consisted of 41 6th grade students in a secondary school in Bayburt in the 2018-2019 academic year. A diagnostic test consisting of 10 questions was prepared in order to determine students' misconceptions. The diagnostic test was prepared in accordance with the gains in the 6th grade mathematics curriculum. These gains are as follows; "writes an algebraic expression appropriate to a given oral situation and writes an oral situation appropriate to a given algebraic expression.", "calculates the value of the algebraic expression for different natural number values that the variable will take" and "explain the meaning of simple algebraic expressions ". As a result of the test, students' errors and misconceptions were predicted. A clinical interview was conducted with the students in order to understand whether the mistakes made by the students were misconceptions. The interview was conducted to see if the students insisted on the mistake. Students' insistence on mistakes will show that they have misconceptions. As all students could not be reached, 26 students were interviewed. As a result of the study, 27 misconceptions of the students were determined. Since it is the transition period of arithmetic to algebra for 6th grade students, it is seen that there are many misconceptions and errors. In line with the results of the study, recommendations were made to the stakeholders who will work on this subject.