This document contains the lesson plans for a 12-week course in basic workplace pre-algebra that was developed for clothing and textile workers through the joint effort of Northeastern Illinois University's Chicago Teachers' Center and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. A chart for recording students' mastery of 25 course…

Proposes sports statistics as a source of interesting and motivating problems for algebra students. Examines the possible solutions to a problem involving winning percentages in baseball. (MDH)

Presents the findings of a study on the learning experiences of undergraduates enrolled in a writing-intensive algebra course. The study revealed that writing activities are successful in terms of facilitating student comprehension of mathematical content. The use of words allows student writers to gain ownership of the algebraic content. (DDR)

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Curriculum and Evaluation Standards puts great stress on the mathematical processes of problem solving, communication, reasoning, and making connections. NCTM standards also emphasize new and emerging content areas for middle school students such as algebra, data analysis, and probability.…

Describes the use of data sets from ultraracing--foot races that are longer than a marathon--with second-year algebra students in data-analysis projects. (JRH)

Discusses the benefits of new technologies, especially graphing calculators, in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Presents two activities for teaching algebra and regression using graphing calculators. (ASK)

This course of study guide is designed to help teachers establish a continuity within the scope and sequence of their elementary school mathematics curriculum and to assist those teachers in formulating some realistic goals for themselves and their students. This guide delineates content requirements needed to satisfy K-8 proficiency expectations…

Introduces the use of the game Battleship to study the system of equations and the distance formula. (ASK)

Details the authors' investigation of journal writing in first-year algebra and unveils journal writing's connections with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics. (MKR)

Presents activities that combine astronomy problems with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, data analysis, and physics. Provides experiences for students in making distance measurements themselves by using the method of parallax. (ASK)

Introduces a strategy for writing equations of graphs to help students and teachers build strong conceptual connections between the symbolic representations of algebra and the spatial representations of geometry. (Author/MKR)

Describes an activity using M&M's in an algebra class after instruction in solving equations that actively involves students in identifying the variable, formulating an equation, then solving the equation. (AIM)

Described is an approach to computational matrix algebra that takes advantage of a high quality, low cost microcomputer software package. The examples and applications discussed focus on matrix multiplication. (Author/CW)

Explores the ramifications of two three-year-long experiences with different pedagogical approaches to beginning algebra. Focuses on differences in the nature of subject matter understandings and explores the impact on the teacher to support students' classroom exploration of mathematical ideas. (Contains 58 references.) (Author/ASK)

Finds that students taking algebra-based introductory physics have difficulty with one- and two-body problems in particle mechanics. Provides graded exercises for drawing and utilizing free-body diagrams. (CCM)