In a recent post, I responded to a request for a kinesthetic introduction to Pascal's Triangle. Here is a kinesthetic activity to introduce or review graphing:Ask students to line up along the line at the middle of a basketball court, which will be the x-axis. The middle student will be 0, and students on the… Continue reading Another Kinesthetic Activity: Graphing
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Kinesthetic intro to Pascal’s Triangle
Question in an online discussion:I'm trying to figure out how to kinesthetically demonstrate Pascal's triangle with my precalculus kidsMy response: I do a lot of kinesthetic activities in geometry and algebra, but haven't yet thought about this particular topic that way.Here's a possibility:- Have students stand in a triangular number arrangement- Give the top student… Continue reading Kinesthetic intro to Pascal’s Triangle
Retreat for Experienced Teachers
If you work at a CAIS* member school, you may be able to get your school to send you to The Classroom and Beyond, a retreat for experienced teachers. I'm part of the faculty for that program, which will take place April 18-20 in Palm Springs. The last retreat was in 2008, and was quite… Continue reading Retreat for Experienced Teachers
Lab Gear assessment
A correspondent asks:Do you have an assessment piece to the algebra lab for middle school?Not exactly. You might look in The Algebra Lab High School, and especially Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts and all its supporting material. (All free downloads on my Web site.) You will probably be able to find material there that you could… Continue reading Lab Gear assessment
CAIS South conference
I'll be speaking at the California Association of Independent Schools conference, on March 8 in North Hollywood. Two presentations:The Geometry of Conic SectionsSpace: An Advanced Geometry Elective After Algebra 2If you teach at a member school, I hope to see you there!--Henri
Job at the Urban School
Full-Time High School Mathematics TeacherFor the 2010-11 School YearThe Urban School of San Francisco seeks a high school mathematics teacher with an undergraduate degree in mathematics or a mathematical science to teach classes ranging from Algebra through Calculus. The school is looking for a dynamic, creative teacher who has enthusiasm for working with high school… Continue reading Job at the Urban School
Madness in Seattle, cont’d
In a previous post, I wrote:A judge overturned the math textbook selection of the Seattle school district, on the grounds that the books are "inquiry-based" and not as effective (according to the plaintiffs in a court case) as "direct instruction".Just to be clear: I don't see myself on the side of "inquiry" and against "direct… Continue reading Madness in Seattle, cont’d
Madness in Seattle
A judge overturned the math textbook selection of the Seattle school district, on the grounds that the books are "inquiry-based" and not as effective (according to the plaintiffs in a court case) as "direct instruction". The textbooks are published by Key Curriculum Press, and include the Discovering series for algebra and geometry, and the Foerster… Continue reading Madness in Seattle
Slide Rules
A correspondent writes:I have no idea how a slide rule works, but I'd like to learn. I mean that's wrong. I obviously have an idea, but I've never used one, and I think it'd be good to show students how they work. I learned how to use a slide rule in high school. I still have… Continue reading Slide Rules
Tools
I added a new page: For a Tool-Rich Pedagogy. At the bottom, there are links organized by tool, so that you can quickly find, say, all Fathom files on the site, or all pages involving pattern blocks. (Well, "all" may be an exaggeration, but I did try to make the links as comprehensive as I… Continue reading Tools
Henri's Math Education Blog 