I'll be offering a workshop at East Bay Charter Connect's Third Annual Charter School Symposium on Friday, October 11, in Oakland, CA. My theme is "Connecting the Dots (math on the geoboard and dot paper)". This will include selected topics in algebra and geometry: area, distance, the Pythagorean theorem, simplifying radicals, dilation, slope, and more!… Continue reading Upcoming workshop and presentations
Author: hpicciotto
New Transformational Geometry Page
I've added a Transformational Geometry page to my Web site. I expect it will grow over the next year, as I get further into this and develop new ideas and materials. (See also my earlier post on transformational geometry, which generated an interesting response.) --Henri
Math and Art
Many years ago, I team-taught a class called "Math and Art" with my then-colleague Stephen Thomas, who was an art teacher at The Urban School. Like most such endeavors at any school, the class was short-lived — I believe we offered it twice. However it was not in vain: some of that curriculum found its… Continue reading Math and Art
Interactive Geometry Software
Some years ago, I started using interactive geometry software. My application of choice was Cabri, because I appreciated its mathematical depth and the elegant simplicity of its interface. I developed a number of Cabri-based activities, many of which you can find on my Web site. For example:function diagrams, the geometry of the parabola and ellipse, factoring… Continue reading Interactive Geometry Software
NY Times special issue
The New York Times special issue on math and science education on September 2, 2013, included some worthwhile items."Cognitive Science Meets Pre-Algebra" reports on a recent study of "interleaving homework" in a middle school in Tampa. The idea was to compare the usual approach (homework is on the topic currently under study) with interleaving, which… Continue reading NY Times special issue
Extending Exposure
Not all students learn new math concepts at the same rate. Everyone knows this. Can anything be done about it?This is part of a multifaceted strategy to teach heterogeneous classes. Read about it in this article: Reaching the Full Range. Most schools attempt to make the problem more manageable by tracking students into Honors, Regular,… Continue reading Extending Exposure
One Should Separate Related Topics!
This is part of a multifaceted strategy to teach heterogeneous classes. Read about it in this article: Reaching the Full Range.In a previous post, I discussed the benefits of "lagging homework". These included extending student exposure to new ideas, which benefits everyone: stronger students get the forward motion they want and need, and students who… Continue reading One Should Separate Related Topics!
"A New Algebra"
About twenty years ago, along with Anita Wah, I wrote "A New Algebra", a paper for the Journal of Mathematical Behavior (JMB). It was an attempt to address what I saw as a crucial issue in secondary math education: on the one hand, the traditional Algebra 1 course was the gateway to any further work… Continue reading "A New Algebra"
More on Homework
In response to my previous post, Mike Thayer asks: "What's your take on no homework at all? " Most learning happens in class, and one should not overdo homework. Too much homework only antagonizes kids and in most cases, it does not help their learning. On the other hand, a small amount of homework is… Continue reading More on Homework
Lagging Homework
This is part of a multifaceted strategy to teach heterogeneous classes. Read about it in this article: Reaching the Full Range.One concept which has been extremely popular every time I've offered my workshops is "lagging homework". The idea is to completely separate tonight's homework from today's class work. I tend to assign homework about ideas… Continue reading Lagging Homework
Henri's Math Education Blog 