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Re: [Phys-L] problems with the teaching of algebra

Hello All,

As I mentioned, I have been working on a project related to how we teach
algebra. My goal is to present the material both differently and earlier
than a traditional algebra 1 approach. For example, I don't see why we
wait until algebra 2 or precalc to teach about functions. And I am always
troubled by students who see algebra as a set of procedures rather than a
language.

So I put it all in a book, intended for students to work through in the
year or two before they take algebra. While I don't expect a book to cure
all that ails, I do think it shows that this was written by a high school
science teacher. In addition, I think it would be good for middle school
students to see that there is more to math than arithmetic.

Since it was just released, the "look inside" feature is not up yet. In
the mean time, I welcome questions and comments, here or off list.

http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Math-Young-Students-Algebra/dp/1502817330/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_1

Have a good weekend,
Phil

On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 8:53 AM, Chuck Britton <britton@ncssm.edu> wrote:

Some say that mathematics is studying (or playing with) Patterns.

Numbers often are a useful tool to Display or Explain the patterns, but
the numbers are not the math (usually).

My wife & I find the Patterns of Numbers to be a good way to while away
the hours when stuck in a boring environment such as the ER. ;-)



On Oct 18, 2014, at 5:05 AM, John Denker <jsd@av8n.com> wrote:

b) To a mathematician, math is something else entirely.
I know some pretty serious mathematicians who are not
very good at basic arithmetic.

I don't even know what to call this type of math. Maybe
"the art of mathematics". I think of it as "math with
panache", with style, with class.

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