Introduction to Equations: Three Cases as Part of a Video Study

In an international comparative video study called VIDEOMAT (Kilhamn & Röj-Lindberg, 2013) the aim has been to document mathematics lessons in Finland,Norway, Sweden and the USA on the introduction to algebra. A more specificteaching content, introduction of letters as variables, was determined throughtextbook analyses in each country. A series of consecutive lessons were videorecorded in two to five schools in each country with the primary aim to makecomparative analyses concerning algebra teaching and learning. As part of datacollected within VIDEOMAT, the first recorded lesson in three primary schools inthe Swedish speaking part of Finland has been analyzed. The analysis showssimilarities on a structural level as well as remarkable differences in the classroomspecificapproaches to the introduction of equations.