Some time ago, Mike Thayer posted a comparison of Algebra 1 and Geometry as they are experienced in the classroom. He concluded that since geometry is so much more real to students, and lends itself to interesting connections, perhaps it should be taught first.In response, I suggested that moving specific topics up and down the… Continue reading Intelligent sequencing vs. external mandates
Tag: Teaching
Common Core and "Assessment"
I attended a the Critical Issues in Math Education (CIME) meeting in Berkeley (my home town) a few weeks ago. It was a decent mix of math ed researchers, mathematicians, teachers, and people who work for various nonprofits connected to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). I was pleased to see they did involve some… Continue reading Common Core and "Assessment"
Dialogue (continued)
Here is the continuation of my conversation with Mike Thayer.The quotes are from this post on his blog.I am curious about what you mean by "teach better, not less"I have discovered a truly remarkable approach to teaching which this post is too small to contain. See for example: Nothing Works For a Tool-Rich PedagogyAnd… Continue reading Dialogue (continued)
Function Diagram Slides
I posted slides from last Saturday's talk about function diagrams on my Web site. I don't imagine they'll be that useful, unless you want to use them in one of your presentations, but on the same page you can read the article the presentation was largely based on, and find links to many PDFs, animations,… Continue reading Function Diagram Slides
Solving Inequalities
One topic that has nearly vanished from my teaching is the solving of inequalities "by hand". There are several reasons for that choice:The techniques are difficult to teach and difficult to learn, because they are so close to the ones for the solving of linear equations, but differ in one crucial case.It is difficult to… Continue reading Solving Inequalities
Using interactive geometry
This is the final post of my report on the Asilomar conference. (To read the whole set, start here.)I made a cameo appearance in my colleague Scott Nelson's presentation on how using computer software intelligently has made his Analytic Geometry course vastly more accessible. I loved his presentation. (If you teach in a member school… Continue reading Using interactive geometry
About Student-Created Problems
In my last post, I reported on Avery Pickford's exciting presentation at the Asilomar conference. The idea of student-created problems was thought-provoking — here are some thoughts it provoked.I have no doubt that pursuing student-created problems is worthwhile, but a skeptic may not be convinced by the argument that we should do this because it… Continue reading About Student-Created Problems
Student-Created Problems
This is the continuation of my report on last weekend's Asilomar conference. (Previous installment.)Avery Pickford's session was about student-created problems. You can read a summary on this blog (Without Geometry, Life is Pointless). Creating problems is, after all, what mathematicians do. Yes, they sometimes explore questions that have been posed by others, but even then,… Continue reading Student-Created Problems
Standards
Just back from the California Math Council Northern California conference. It takes place in Asilomar, a state beach and convention facility in Pacific Grove, near Monterey, CA. I've been taking this trip every year with the Urban School Math Department for who knows how long. We all ride down together in one van, and hang… Continue reading Standards
Complex Instruction
I visit a lot of schools and a lot of math classes. To be honest, those visits are often disappointing. Many math classes, at many schools, are depressingly similar: going over the homework; the presentation of a microskill by the teacher, while many students are thinking about something else; students starting the day's homework based… Continue reading Complex Instruction
Henri's Math Education Blog 