I really enjoyed the article To Encourage "Algebra for all," Start an Algebra Network which was in the April 1998 issue of Mathematics Teacher and written by Suzanne Davis and Denisse R. Thompson. The emphasis of the article was to get whole school districts to work together and teach pieces of algebra at all levels (K-12). In elementary school you start with the students doing the hands on and numerical problems, in middle school the students learn/use pictorials, and by high school the students are understanding the same problems algebraically (abstract).

The Math Department at Ordean Middle School all (four teachers) attended a "Hands on Seminar" this last fall. We were given a classroom set of manipulatives for bringing five 5th graders to be examples. We have all implemented this program in our classes and have spoken with the 6th grade teachers. They are willing to implement it into their curriculum as well. This is similar to what was being done in Pinellas County, Florida (which the article was basically about), but we are only doing this in grades 6-8 and only at Ordean.

A final note, the teachers in the article got together once a month and shared ideas. I do believe that I have heard (TIMSS report) that the mathematics teachers in Japan are given time to observe other mathematics teachers in order to perfect their own styles. I would like to be able to do this.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 1999

Answers

Hello Richard, What do you see as the best way to improve math education? You allude to having a plan in your commentary, I would like to know more. It appears that what you may be suggesting might have merit in other academic disciplines, but I would like to know more. Please let me know more about your plan. Thanks, John

-- Anonymous, June 24, 1999