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Is Algebra Necessary?
New York Times ^ | July 28, 2012 | ANDREW HACKER

Posted on 07/29/2012 6:05:38 AM PDT by reaganaut1

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To: wintertime

I teach in a private Catholic school. :)

No gubmint Union for me.


301 posted on 07/29/2012 3:46:42 PM PDT by JCBreckenridge (Texas, Texas, Whisky)
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To: JCBreckenridge

Good for you! Really!

You are part of the solution.


302 posted on 07/29/2012 3:49:40 PM PDT by wintertime (:-))
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To: wintertime

Thank you. Still part-time and trying to save up to get my all-level certification. I have a history degree, but where I teach would rather have me teaching other stuff as well.


303 posted on 07/29/2012 3:52:30 PM PDT by JCBreckenridge (Texas, Texas, Whisky)
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To: El Laton Caliente
Unless trade school is training buger flippers your plan will not work.

I would just move the algebra inti the trade schools and AWAY from the AFT and NEA, and possible public funding. If they are done with public school at 14 or so, there would be time.
304 posted on 07/29/2012 3:54:06 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("I love to hear you talk talk talk, but I hate what I hear you say."-Del Shannon)
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To: mike_9958

Ha, ok - my husband is a geochemist who adores his engineers and their real-world applications. Let me rephrase that so as to honor the engineers among us.

I am referring to one (used-to-be) engineer who later taught at the local high school. My students could not understand her presentation of algebra. It was her first year, so there’s another minus. She had absolutely zero understanding of how 9th graders thought - not all of them are yet conceptual thinkers - and zero tolerance of having to explain things a second time or another way. Students were miserable, she was self-righteous.

She told my one student - at a conference WITH the parents and in front of the student - ‘your daughter will never do well in algebra. She should just get out right now (it was 3 weeks into the school year!!). Mom was apoplectic. Daughter was the most studious, determined kid I ever taught, and very polite.


305 posted on 07/29/2012 6:05:07 PM PDT by bboop (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? St. Augustine)
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To: mike_9958

Ha, ok - my husband is a geochemist who adores his engineers and their real-world applications. Let me rephrase that so as to honor the engineers among us.

I am referring to one (used-to-be) engineer who later taught at the local high school. My students could not understand her presentation of algebra. It was her first year, so there’s another minus. She had absolutely zero understanding of how 9th graders thought - not all of them are yet conceptual thinkers - and zero tolerance of having to explain things a second time or another way. Students were miserable, she was self-righteous.

She told my one student - at a conference WITH the parents and in front of the student - ‘your daughter will never do well in algebra. She should just get out right now (it was 3 weeks into the school year!!). Mom was apoplectic. Daughter was the most studious, determined kid I ever taught, and very polite.


306 posted on 07/29/2012 6:05:28 PM PDT by bboop (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? St. Augustine)
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To: mike_9958

Ha, ok - my husband is a geochemist who adores his engineers and their real-world applications. Let me rephrase that so as to honor the engineers among us.

I am referring to one (used-to-be) engineer who later taught at the local high school. My students could not understand her presentation of algebra. It was her first year, so there’s another minus. She had absolutely zero understanding of how 9th graders thought - not all of them are yet conceptual thinkers - and zero tolerance of having to explain things a second time or another way. Students were miserable, she was self-righteous.

She told my one student - at a conference WITH the parents and in front of the student - ‘your daughter will never do well in algebra. She should just get out right now (it was 3 weeks into the school year!!). Mom was apoplectic. Daughter was the most studious, determined kid I ever taught, and very polite.


307 posted on 07/29/2012 6:05:56 PM PDT by bboop (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? St. Augustine)
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To: Dust in the Wind

Yes, Multiplication works the same regardless of order. For example, 3x5 is the same as 5x3. That should make sense when you picture multiplication as a repetitive addition. If you have 4 piles of 5 pennies, it is the same amount of money as if you have 5 piles of 4 pennies.

Of course, your question already shows knowledge of the “language” of math. You knew how to construct a sentence that reflects a math question. It was funny how many people needed work to understand the shorthand you just used. “What happened to the multiplication sign?”


308 posted on 07/29/2012 6:41:03 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: bboop

I raised four kids and I loved my teaching days. I had a blast with the students. I particularly enjoy the challenging students

Most hated algebra - because they were taught it out of a book rather than have some simply explain it to them.


309 posted on 07/29/2012 7:15:34 PM PDT by mike_9958
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To: Kirkwood

Algebra isn’t so much about “proofs” as rules; formulae. It’s like learning anything else....and what I always taught my kids: Learn the terminology (KNOW what the words/terms really mean), then learn the rules. Everything else falls into place. It really is that easy.


310 posted on 07/30/2012 6:13:30 AM PDT by RightOnline (I am Andrew Breitbart!)
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To: reaganaut1

My 4- and 2-year-olds are learning algebra. Not kidding.
It’s disguised as a game, but they’re learning the essence nonetheless.
DragonBox: http://dragonboxapp.com/


311 posted on 07/30/2012 6:22:20 AM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com)
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To: reaganaut1

The problem isn’t inability to learn, it’s unwillingness to.


312 posted on 07/30/2012 6:24:11 AM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com)
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