I will be teaching two instances of my Visual Algebra workshop this summer: grades 7-11, June 27-30, in Oakland; and grades 6-9, July 25-27, in Saint Louis. (More info). This is probably the topic I have presented the most often in the last 25 years.To many students, not to mention teachers, parents, and administrators, algebra… Continue reading Visual Algebra
Tag: MyBooks
Animated Demonstrations
New on my Web site:→ Animated slides on the Lab Gear model for signed number arithmetic.Note that for each operation, the model is based on what students already know. For addition, you put down the first number, then the second number, and finally count. For subtraction, you put down the first number, take away the… Continue reading Animated Demonstrations
New Lab Gear Books
As I announced in the November issue of my newsletter, the new Lab Gear books are out, and can be ordered from Didax: Algebra Lab Gear: Basic Algebra, and Algebra Lab Gear: Algebra 1.The Lab Gear is a comprehensive manipulative environment I created for the teaching and learning of algebra. I devote a fair amount… Continue reading New Lab Gear Books
Integer Sequences
Last winter, I attended an interesting meeting of mathematicians and math educators in Banff, Canada. Our charge was to compile a list of integer sequences that would offer suitable problems for students (and teachers) at each level from Kindergarten to 12th grade. It was a sequel to 2014's Unsolved K-12 meeting, and once again was… Continue reading Integer Sequences
Pattern Blocks on Pi Day
I'll be offering a workshop for middle school and high school teachers on March 14 at the American Institute for Mathematics in San Jose. My topic is pattern blocks:<img alt="" height="76" src="data: Pattern blocks are ubiquitous in elementary schools, but they're not commonly seen in middle school or high school. Yet, they do offer plenty of… Continue reading Pattern Blocks on Pi Day
Summer Workshops, 2015
I'll be teaching four workshops this summer, in two new locations: Seattle, and Waltham, MA (which is a half-hour West of Boston.) If you've meant to attend my workshops in the past, but couldn't make it to San Francisco, New York, or DC, perhaps these venues are more convenient for you? There will be no… Continue reading Summer Workshops, 2015
Pythagorean Proofs
I just added a second dynamic geometry proof of the Pythagorean theorem on my Web site.Both are proofs "without words", which in reality means that you should use them to generate discussion. Indeed, many words are needed for students to fully grasp what they see, but the words should not come exclusively from the teacher.… Continue reading Pythagorean Proofs
Proportional Relationships
One good thing about the Common Core middle school standards is the emphasis on proportional relationships, and the fact that they are approached in a multidimensional way. In addition to "set up a proportion and solve it", which is probably the most common way to teach this, the standards propose multiple representations and a variety… Continue reading Proportional Relationships
The Lab Gear Is Back
Completing the Square
New animation: a geometric representation of completing the square. In this post, I present one way to use it as part of an algebra curriculum.Many secondary school teachers figure that the derivation of the quadratic formula by completing the square can be shown to students, but have little hope of any understanding. They… Continue reading Completing the Square
