Explain this
Making Algebra Come Alive
How the publisher describes it:
“Each activity is presented as a reproducible student investigation. It is followed by guidelines and notes for the teacher. Each activity is keyed to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards, Revised. This link to the NCTM standards allows teachers to facilitate linking classroom activities to specific state and school district content standards.”
Review by Peter Hall
In brief:
This is a very interesting book and one that can only help our battle to make algebra come alive and help our students see the useful and interesting problems that algebra can help us to deal with.
“Well-written and easy to follow”
Making Algebra Come Alive is often a challenge for us - many of our students don’t seem to get the point, and this lack of understanding seems to last quite a long time for many of our students - I’m still amazed how many year 12 students have never really grasped what we believe to be quite fundamental.
The activities have a student version - asking structured questions to lead the students into interesting areas of mathematics. Topics range from Equations, Probability, Problem Solving and Number Theory.
The worksheets are clear to understand and lead the student nicely through the lesson. As an example, one such worksheet helps the student to better understand the difficulties of averages - using not only the average speed problem (50 miles per hour on the way out, 25 miles per hour on the way home... so why is the average speed not 25 miles per hour?) but also includes an example from test scores ( 90% on three test and 60% on the fourth - and the average clearly shouldn’t be 75%?). This leads neatly onto consideration of weighted means.
The teachers notes are well-written and easy to follow yet explain the complex problems very well. Ideas are given to extend the students’ understanding.
This is a very interesting book and one that can only help our battle to make algebra come alive and help our students see the useful and interesting problems that algebra can help us to deal with.
Peter Hall • AST Mathematics, Imberhorne School, East Grinstead
Paperback: 168 pages
Publisher: Corwin Press (5 Sep 2000)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0761975977
ISBN-13: 978-0761975977
Product Dimensions: 27.7 x 21.3 x 1.3 cm
