www.whyslopes.com
for better work & study skills, read the math-free logic chapters in Vol. 2 (Français)
Volume 1B,  Mathematics Curriculum Notes
Echoes of Modern Mathematics Curricula,  a reference for mathematics instructors and math education professors
recognition of old difficulties and inductive principles for course design and delivery provide motivation, method
and technical standards for a new leaner, yet further reaching and more effective curriculum 
    ||Définition d'une variable || Algèbre || Arithmetique || Logique ||
Words for Teachers
[Road Safety Message]Back ] Book Entrance ] Next ] 



Twiddle this page!

OnlineVolumes

1,  Elements of Reason. 
-with  foreword for all volumes
1A. Pattern Based Reason 
- striving for objectivity, etc
1B. Math Curriculum Notes
inductive principles etc
2. Three Skills for Algebra
- unifying themes + study skills
3. Why Slopes  & More Math - previews & starter lessons for elementary & advanced calculus.

See Volume 2 and 3 if you are preparing kids for calculus.

More Site Areas 
1. Help Your Child or  Teen Learn
2. Linear Equations & Fraction Skills - Sec I to V level
 3. Fractions Ratios Rates Proportions Units  - Sec I & II
4. Euclidean Geometry - Sec IV
5. Analytic Geometry -Sec IV & V
6. Number Theory.  Sec V &VI
7. More Calculus Sec V & VI
8. Complex Numbers Sec II to VI
9. Qc Maths Education  
10. Secondary IV(?) math  
11.Real  Analysis College level
12. LaTeX2HotEqn College level
13. Electric Circuits Etc  Sec IV+
14 Français - Sec III +
15. www.whyslopes.com  Entrance Level Pages:

This  Calculus Preview and Chapters 2 to 6 in  Volume 3 offer lessons  to make the hard easier at the start of calculus, or to provide a context for the study of slopes and factored polynomials before calculus.

Your IP Address  & 
how to use it

Three Links for Teachers:
(i) First Year High School Math - Lesson Plans with Fraction Focus (ii) Second Year High School Math - Lesson Plans with an algebra focus (iii) Algebra Lesson Plans

Parents: Site Area Helping Your Child or Teen Learn  covers 1. Speaking Skills, 2. Reading & Writing, 3. Preparing for Science, 4. Math Work Books, 5.Books for Parents, 6. Mathematics for ages 6 to 14, 7. Having Patience -you'll need it. Chaperone your sons and daughters  through jumpMath workbooks for grades 3 to 8 along side site lessons for grades 7 to college and material elsewhere. Parents and teachers need to say no for small things of little consequence to build and maintain authority to say no for larger matters. Parental authority:  use it or lose it, but do not abuse it.

Lesson Plans and lessons

Secondary I - fractions & allied concepts (decimals, percentages)

Secondary II
- Algebra  (arithmetic versus algebraic methods, backward use of formulas and proportionality equations)
Secondary III - to come(?)
Secondary IV
- Functions to Trig & Statistics

Algebra Lesson Notes & Ideas for All levels

 


Words for Teachers

Students need an operational command of fractions, logic, algebra, geometry, trig and calculus. Seeing how to follow multi-step methods to obtain and present results in a repeatable, reproducible, readable and therefore verifiable (right or wrong) manner may be source of confidence in the reliability of mathematics and a source of abilities or a sign of intelligence for further work and studies.   

For students with no immediate interest in the know-why, a focus on the practice, an operational command of key skills and concepts may make comprehension later of the know-why easier and more appealing.  For high school mathematics and calculus, fraction sense and an efficient command of arithmetic with fractions is more important than full comprehension of why the calculation methods work, but seeing the why, depending on the student, may help with the practice. Logic or chains of reason appear in many places in mathematics.  A mix of logic and rote learning may be optimal. 

 In mathematics, skill and confidence begins with  arithmetic  methods  with repeatable and reproducible  results - so answers are right or wrong, and so that student acquire the discipline to follow steps carefully. Drill and practice in  whole numbers and fraction arithmetic and meaning (number sense)  until second nature is needed in moderation.   Explanations why arithmetic  methods work may be presented in part as aids to their mastery, where not too complicated nor too alienating for students.  The fact that a method works may be sufficient empirically and hence intellectually for many. The further development of mathematics (algebra, logic, geometry, trig, calculus)  after arithmetic provides opportunities to emphasize the thinking part of the subject, at which point some, not all, may revisit arithmetic methods to see why they work, but for marking and evaluation, an operational command is sufficient.  Tutoring, or checklist approach to skill and comprehension development and tracking for each student, may go further.

In skill and concept based subjects, I would like to see instructors track for each student, which skills and concepts have been mastered and to what level, so that students and teachers have a clearer guide for what needs to be reviewed or learnt. Keeping such a checklist might allow a teacher to say to student, you may skip these question, but you have to do or try those.  That may lead to more thought in direction of studies and less work in marking in mathematics or science courses alone and in sequence.  That may also provide an objective evaluation of a students skill and concept level. 

The thought-based development of applied mathematics present in site pages may stand alone or be seen as platform for further studies in modern mathematics, pure or applied.  High school mathematics with its reliance on diagrams and coordinates for its comprehension and development is mixed rather than pure mathematics. 

The exposition of mathematics, the introduction of algebra or the shorthand roles of letters and symbols has been confusing in the past for many literate students, skilled and intelligent outside of mathematics.  Innovations in site material may make existing mathematics courses easier  while setting the stage, trust but verify please, for expositional or content changes in high school mathematics and calculus

  • Talking about three skills for algebra and what is a variable may provide a remedy. 

  • The role of logic in mathematics may be seen more easily if logic ideas are introduced and clarified alone. 

  • Algebra shocks in calculus can be eased or avoided by re-arranging calculus to put some easier ideas first. Rigour can come later. 

The implications or scope of site material grew  from just a few ideas to submit to educational authorities to a full, self-contained theory for changing and improving mathematics education, all driven by the inductive principles  for instruction and by reports of poor results in high school mathematics.  Writing began in 1991  to report and develop further fall 1983 starter lessons for logic, algebra and calculus which had been useful in easing or avoiding difficulties in college classrooms 1983-89, lessons which had been motivated by a sense of incompleteness in the introduction of skills and concepts.  

 

 

1B, Mathematics Curriculum Notes,   Chapters 1 to 12 

Book Entrance
Inductive Principles
Three Remarks
1 Introduction
2 For & Against Math
3 Algebraic Thought
4 Why Slopes & SQRT of -1
5  Books & Articles to Read
6 Unruly Origins of Algebra
6. Axiomatic Civilization
7 Geometry, 2 Ways
8 Modern Instruction
9 The Two Ends
10 The Transition
10 Explaining Logic
10 Explaining Algebra
10 Why Sets in Math.
12 Four Phases
Essay January 2007
Words for Teachers
Grouping Students
Site Eurekas
Links
Managing Reform
Constructivism Revisite
Math Ed. Professors
More  On Constructivism
Educational Follies
Missing the Point I
Direct Instruction
Damage Reversal

Chapter 11: Primary School Mathematics

11 Primary Math
11 Cue Cards
11 Counting
11 Decimals - Addition
11 Decimals -Times
11 Decimals & Subtraction
11 Fractions and Division
11 Notational Conflict
11 Reciprocals Etc
11 Decimals - Ratios
11 Size Comparison
11 Numbers, +ve or -ve
11 Rename < Sign
11 Complex Numbers

-Inductive principles for course design & delivery  require a clear description of where and how skills and concepts may rest on earlier ones, so that difficulties may be explained and remedied by looking for  what was missed or forgotten in earlier studies. 

Mathematics is a demanding subject. All errors in notation and comprehension need to be identified and corrected. In reading, spelling and writing, students have to learn all the letters in the alphabet, not just some. and memorize spelling. Anything less implies difficulty.

Likewise in mathematics, students have to master key skills and concepts, one at a time and one after another. Anything less implies difficulty.


My status  Teachers U are not alone. For online help and advice for understanding and developing mathematics,, contact  site author Professor Selby via (i) Email (ii) Yaho (or MSN) Messenger, or (iii)  Skype
for online sessions by chance when I am online or appointment when I am off. The first session (saying hello) is free.  While talking online, we may scribble on  Yahoo, MSN, Skype or  Twiddle this page!  whiteboards. The twiddla whiteboards has a built-in browser for students, teachers and tutors in general to import webpages and explore/scribble on them together.  It also has audio in theory.   [Session length depends on supply and demand.  Call during off-peak periods for better service. ]

 


[Top] [Book Entrance]  Back ] Next ]
site entrance site reviews. [ Road Safety Message ]

Favourite SitesBBC News  and the  Mathematics portion of  English National Curriculum  
Feedback and Contact

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Copyright to comments & contributions are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 1995 onward by site author Alan Selby, Ph. D.  All Rights Reserved.