Explain this
Developing Thinking in Algebra
How the publisher describes it:
“This book is based on teaching principles developed by the team at The Open University's Centre for Mathematics Education which has a 20-year track record of innovative approaches to teaching and learning algebra. Written for teachers working with pupils aged 7-16, it includes numerous tasks ready for adaption for your teaching and discusses principles that teachers have found useful in preparing and conducting lessons.”
Review by Peter Hall
In brief:
I look forward to leading my students through some of the exercises in this book - and I encourage you to find a copy for yourself.
“Algebra...a painless device for expressing generality”
This is an incredibly interesting and thought provoking book. Intended for anyone interested in developing their own mathematical thinking, or of the students they teach, whether at a primary level or right through to FE. The book is a delightful blend of theory and practice - encouraging the reader to participate, to solve problems and to develop their own thinking.
The book is neatly divided into chapters, and each chapter sensibly split into blocks. Each block would make a couple of hours enjoyable work. Questions are posed for the reader to work on, then some intelligent discussion helps to move the reader along. The book opens with some discussion about using numbers to express generality then moves onto using diagrams and picture sequences to do the same. Much effort is made to introduce algebra as a painless device for expressing generality - an approach I’m sure our students would benefit from.
The authors claim that ‘a lesson without the opportunity for learners to express a generality is not in fact a mathematics lesson’ - otherwise it is at best a clerical exercise. I am only too aware than many of my students are easily seduced by learning techniques, and wanting to see every possible question answered by their teacher in order that they can reproduce the answers in the final exam. This book provides many examples and questions to encourage such students to think for themselves, to regard their mathematics lesson as less a series of recipes to be followed but rather a blend of ingredients to create their own meal.
I look forward to leading my students through some of the exercises in this book - and I encourage you to find a copy for yourself.
Peter Hall • AST Mathematics, Imberhorne School, East Grinstead
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd (15 Mar 2005)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1412911710
ISBN-13: 978-1412911719
Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 17 x 2.2 cm
