ABSTRACT
Working with absolute value expressions numerically, in tables, and on number lines can be confusing to students. Many students do not realize that the positive and negative signs represents direction and the absolute value of the integer tells the distance to zero, both of which are nonnegative. Using contextual situations involving absolute value is effective in helping students develop an understanding of this often misunderstood concept. In one classroom, students have had many experiences walking the number line to model positive and negative integers. Students are instructed to work in pairs to model each situation on a number line. After an allotted time, the teacher invites different pairs of volunteers to share their number lines.
