Developing Thinking in Algebra
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 • Imberhorne School, East Grinstead
Developing Thinking in Algebra
John Mason, Alan Graham, Sue Johnston-Wilder
Paul Chapman Publishing
Clothback: 1-4129-1170-2 - £70
Paperback: 1-4129-1171-0 - £19.99
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