Re-Teach Idea

Re-Teaching Idea Background My Algebra 1 class has miserably failed to demonstrate minimal proficiency with the basic tenets of graphing linear equations.  The class average was under 50% on a very basic quiz, one whose questions were well covered during the week.  Further, during the week, not a single student reported difficulty with independent practice, … Read more

homework

This article helps you to understand the role of homework and how to better motivate students to complete their homework.

Mathematical Literacy

Mathematical Literacy Integrating Literacy Development Opportunities in Your Instruction   A few years ago I attended a professional development seminar designed to help American math teachers integrate best practices and strategies required for their students to be successful with the Cambridge IGCSE program.  I was a guest “reference-source,” in the seminar because of the success … Read more

Favorite Technology

My Favorite Technology With the invention of the radio came claims that, “This will revolutionize education, forever.” Then came television, and more claims that, “This will revolutionize education, forever.” Then came the VHS player.  You guessed it, more, “This will revolutionize education, forever.” Then the internet came along, and louder than ever were the claims … Read more

Teaching Square Roots Conceptually

Teaching Square Roots Conceptually   teaching square roots How to Teach Square Roots Conceptually If you have taught for any length of time, you’ll surely have seen one of these two things below. 24−−√=62–√   or     4–√=2–√24=62   or     4=2 MathType@MTEF@5@5@+=feaagKart1ev2aqatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLnhiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq=Jc9vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0=yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr=xfr=xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaWaaOaaaeaacaaIYaGaaGinaaWcbeaakiabg2da9iaaiAdadaGcaaqaaiaaikdaaSqabaGccaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGVbGaaeOCaiaabccacaaMc8UaaGPaVlaaykW7caaMc8+aaOaaaeaacaaI0aaaleqaaOGaeyypa0ZaaOaaaeaacaaIYaaaleqaaaaa@479C@  Sure, this can be corrected procedurally.  But, over time, they’ll forget the procedure and revert back to following whatever misconception … Read more

This

Let’s talk about THE question in a teacher’s life … the baleful, “When am I going to use this in my real life?” Yeah, that one. The honest answer is probably, never… and they know it.  Why else ask, if not to subvert and diminish your role and purpose?  They don’t really want an answer.  … Read more

Try to Solve This Problem … without Algebra

Can you solve the following, without doing any Algebraic manipulation?  Just by reading and thinking about what it says, can you figure out what x is?  (The numbers a, x, and k are not zero.) Given:  3a = k And:  ax = 4k What must x be? If you’re versed much at all in basic Algebra you will be tempted to substitute … Read more

Exponents Part 2

two Exponents Part 2 Division In the previous section we learned that exponents are repeated multiplication, which on its own is not tricky. What makes exponents tricky is determining what is a base and what is not for a given exponent. It is imperative that you really understand the material from the previous section before … Read more

Exponents Part 1

exponents part 1 Exponents Part 1 Reading Math One of the biggest things to understand about math is how it is written. The spatial arrangement of characters is syntax. Syntax, in English, refers to the arrangements of words to convey meaning. Exponents are just a way of writing repeated multiplication. If we are multiplying a … Read more

The Purpose of Homework and My Response

The purpose of homework is to promote learning.  That’s it.  It’s not a way to earn a grade or something to keep kids busy.  It’s also not something that just must be completed in order to stay out of trouble.  Homework is a chance to try things independently, make mistakes and explore the nature of … Read more