More on algebra

As a colleague pointed out, one of the reasons algebra inspires such angst is that for many parents, it's the first time they really can't help their kids with homework. Here are some more stories about algebra.

Hold the marbles: Abstract approach best for math (Reuters)

More math to be added on (Highline Times, Burien, Wash.)

A pro who cares about students (Washington Post)

-- Mary MacVean

Comments

[John]

If you want a useful lesson in gardening then you'll watch the following video:

http://patrioticactivist.com/2008/04/28/how-much-food-can-i-grow-around-my-house/

Enjoy,
John

[Herb]

Requiring algebra of every student is misplaced political correctness. In my most recent algebra class, I had to give fails to 47% of the students. They had poor backgrounds in arithmetic, poor motivation, poor study habits, poor behavior, parents who spoke no English and did not understand the purpose of the class. Universal mandatory algebra is an exercise in frustration for both student and teacher. Algebra is abstract symbol manipulation and as such is easily accessible to the top 20% of the intelligence distribution. However, sometime in the seventies we stopped talking about things like intelligence distribution and assumed that all students are equally capable given a good enough teacher. There is good teaching and then there is miracle working. Let's be realistic and realize that putting unqualified, unready students in algebra results in failure for them and frustration for the capable students.

[MRM]

Research suggests that just as all children have a natural innate ability to learn language, they also have natural math intuition. (And just as some children are more clever linguistically, others are *more* gifted mathematically, but all children should be able to function in math.) (Watch "Surprises in Mind", which can be streamed from www.learner.org) What often happens is that when children go to school (in the US), they are taught "recipe math" from the earliest grades--"just follow these steps, and you will get the right answer" as the teacher moves quickly from topic to topic, losing some kids and essentially teaching most not to trust their own math intuition. So, yes, by the time they get into 8th or 9th grade, they cannot handle algebra because true understanding of the basics (not to mention mastery of skills, like the times tables, for instance) never happened so there is no foundation to build upon.