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Re: Algebra 1 texts
Posted:
Apr 5, 1996 6:17 PM
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Daniel Ray asked:
(snipped)
>and was
>wondering if any Algebra curriculum was out there that allowed the
>student to ..... I believe, maybe he/she said "develop" Algebra.
(snipped)
Hi;
I have been off the list for quite some time now, and was surprised when I
came back on, to find a question that mirrors my own concern about the
teaching of Algebra. I'm with you on this one, Daniel!!!
I have always believed that we learn/teach algebra backwards. We learn to
balance "someone elses" equations, and solve for x etc. But why? Who cares
about these equations?
I have always believed that it would be much more powerful to begin by
teaching students how to use algebraic langauge to describe patterns,
relationships, generalizations that they observe, and then work to find the
glitch in their theory. That would make balancing, and solving for the
variables purposeful.
I too am an elementary education person, and am consistently working with
students who invent their own 'recipe/algorythm' for solving problems. I
believe that algebra only has value to students if they infact can use it
to describe/generalize relationships that exist.
Eileen Abrahamson
e-mail: 0191enel@informns.k12.mn.us
Fourth Grade
Edw Neill Elementary
Burnsville, MN 55337
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