A puzzle to enjoy I am a 4

A puzzle to enjoy… I am a 4 -digit number edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 1

Paul Goldenberg June Mark Mary Fries Teaching At-risk Algebra Students to Be, Once Again, as Smart and Intrepid as They Were When They Were Six NCSM Annual Conference, April 25, 2012

Before you scramble to take notes ttalgebra. edc. org with downloadable presentation edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 3

Agenda Exploring a mathematics puzzle About Transition to Algebra Samples from TTA and TTA lesson components Developing habits of mind to support the transition from arithmetic to algebra • Some early research findings • Q&A and final discussion • • edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 4

About Transition to Algebra • 4 -year R&D project funded by NSF • From Education Development Center (EDC) • Full-year course to be taken concurrently with first-year algebra, sometimes called “double-period” algebra • Also used in other settings including summer school, and middle school as pre-algebra edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 5

Habits of Mind approach • Quickly giving students the mathematical knowledge, skill, and confidence to succeed in a first-year algebra class • Focus on a few key mathematical ways of thinking or mathematical habits of mind • Important algebra topics are used as contexts for fostering these mathematical practices edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 6

Transition to Algebra Habits of Mind • • • Puzzling and Persevering Using Structure Using Tools Strategically Seeing and Describing Patterns Communicating Clearly Consistent with CCSS Mathematical Practices edc. org Supporting Students to Succeed in Algebra 9/25/2020 7

Transition to Algebra Units 1. Language of Algebra 2. Geography of the Number Line 3. Distance and Sign 4. Area and Multiplication 5. Logic of Algebra 6. Geography of the Coordinate Plane edc. org 7. Thinking Things Through Thoroughly 8. Rational Expressions 9. Equations, Inequalities, and Graphs 10. Un-Multiplying: Factoring and Division 11. Radicals and Exponents 12. Connections Across Mathematics As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 8

A number trick! Moving right along… edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 9

Transition to Algebra: Building Language and Logic of Algebra edc. org Supporting Students to Succeed in Algebra 9/25/2020 10

Mobile Puzzles edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 11

Making the logic of algebra explicit edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 12

Mystery. Grid Puzzles edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 13

Mystery. Grid Puzzles edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 14

Exponents, too edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 15

Invent your own! Who Am I? • I’m a three digit number. Who am I? • Clues: – – edc. org Blah … As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 16

Lesson Components • • Mental Mathematics Lesson Launch Student Problem Solving Puzzles Thinking Out Loud (student dialogues) Discussing Together (class discussion) Assessments Additional Practice edc. org Supporting Students to Succeed in Algebra 9/25/2020 17

Early research findings • Class attrition close to 25% • Class attendance irregular • Individual student scores on a few comparable items rose significantly • Levels of self-concept in mathematics increased significantly • Levels of math anxiety decreased significantly edc. org Presentation Title Appears Here 9/25/2020 18

Q&A and Discussion edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 19

Contact us • ttalgebra. edc. org • e-mail ttalgebra@edc. org • Paul Goldenberg, pgoldenberg@edc. org • June Mark, jmark@edc. org • Mary Fries, mfries@edc. org As smart and intrepid as when they were six 9/25/2020 20