How to Teach Seventh Grade Math With Error Analysis

Seventh grade math students are expected to complete increasingly complex problems and apply concepts they have learned in earlier grades. The simple math practice problems from elementary school are replaced by challenges that require combining skills and following longer sequences of steps. With the greater complexity comes a greater chance for errors, but finding the misstep in a problem can help students refine their technique and improve their understanding. Error analysis will reveal calculation errors, procedural errors and misconceptions. Once the difficulties are identified, teacher and student can work together to correct them.

Find Calculation Errors

• 1

  Show your work on every step of every problem. Visible calculations will help teacher and student retrace steps to find calculation errors.

• 2

  Use opposite operations to check each calculation.

• 3

  Check calculations with a calculator if errors cannot be found.

Isolate Procedural Errors

• 1

  Write each step out clearly. Do not skip steps or do them mentally.

• 2

  Account for all numbers. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what each number in the problem means.

• 3

  Compare steps with a resource such as textbook or notes.

Correct Misconceptions

• 1

  Apply the correct procedure to the correct type of problem. Use textbook and notes to identify the problem type and clarify the procedure.

• 2

  Do homework problems in order. Often they are presented in order of increasing complexity, adding one new step at a time for each set.

• 3

  Utilize tutors, additional help or online tutorials to step through difficult problems. Attempt each step, then compare answers with the correct answers and procedures.