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From: Claudia (for Teacher2Teacher Service)
Date: May 23, 1998 at 22:38:18
Subject: Re: Algebra - 8th grade, models approach

Models? Actually, I can interpret that two different ways. One way would be to use something like algebra tiles and show hands-on how the modeling of various shapes allows for solving equations and operations with polynomials. A second way would be to view things in terms of mathematical modeling. For example, if I bounce a ball and calculate its return bounce, what is the relation that exists between drop height and return bounce height? This one is linear, so I learn about lines, what a real-world meaning of slope is, etc. There are two different books that you can get to see examples, both published by South-Western Publishing Co. Their Algebra I has both models in tiles and math models. The book called Mathematics: Modeling Our World has MANY examples of how math models can be used to teach mathematics.