Slope is a big idea concept in mathematics that runs through multiple grade levels. Too often, teachers rely on the slope formula or ‘tricks’ as the main form of teaching slope to students. By simply presenting students with a formula as the only means to approach slope, students are not given the opportunity to question, discover, or challenge themselves to conceptualize a deeper understanding of slope as a rate of change.
I created this on-demand presentation for NCTM 2021 to spark some creativity in teachers around the idea of slope. The ideas in this video are just the starting point of giving opportunities to students to make connections between ideas and various representations of slope concepts across grade levels. By spending more time developing conceptual understanding of slope, students will be able to approach slope problems in a variety of ways with less reliance on a formula (or rise over run).