Incorporating Algebra Habits of Mind

In previous years I taught Algebra and Pre-Algebra. This year I am teaching 7th
Grade Math. It has been critical for me to introduce algebraic thinking to my students
so they will be prepared for the upcoming year. The principal in algebraic thinking I
introduced and they sort of understand is doing and undoing. I will continue this all year long.

Student work

I will be implementing the Balance Tasks this week

ALGEBRA HOMEWORK OCT 10/27

For October 27, please complete the following:

• Log on to the xtreemmath.com/xtreem website.  Print out the blackline masters for the lesson, Systems of  Linear Equations TEKS A.8ABC. Bring a copy of the blackline masters with you to the next meeting, you will be using this at the next meeting.
• From today's lesson, choose one of the activities to complete with your students:  Balance Tasks (with Dr. Pratt), Fundraising, Using Concrete Models Check up or Solving with Concrete Models to do with your class before the next meeting.  Bring your student work with you to Novembers meeting.  Please comment below which activity you will be completing with your students.  This lesson is on the xtreemmath.com/xtreem website.  
• Six Flags Lessons:  Upload your lessons into dropbox
• Next Meeting: November 10

iPad must-apps

Algebra by YourTeacher.com

This app offers a great resource including videos and step-by-step instruction to help students through their algebra concepts.  Could be a great tool for introducing lessons, for use in differentiating instruction, remediation, and for when students are absent. Some videos are a little dry, but the examples are solid.

Incorporating the factoring lesson

I will use the lesson to show my students a conceptual way to factor. Students getting acclimated to using vocabulary with the writing prompts.

Incorporating Factoring Lesson

The biggest part of the factoring lesson that I will incorporate into my classroom is the box method in reverse. It competely blew my mind the way the activity showed how to factor the example. I have struggled to show the kids ways to factor when <i>a</i> is a factorable coefficient. This activity I think will be very helpful for students who don't like manipulatives, but need some sort of visualization to solve the problems.

The biggest piece from the Algebraic Habits of Mind Diagram is the Abstracting from Computation. The reverse box method allows for some computational shortcuts while factoring.  Also the concept of equivalent expressions is also addressed, because that is essentially what factoring is. Additionally, using the algeblocks to solve factoring problems (not discussed last month, but over the summer) allows students to calculate without computing.

Incorporation of Factoring

One thing I can incorporate inside my classroom is the use of the algebra tiles to teach factoring.  I think students benefit from the visual aspect that are provided by the tiles.  Abstracting from Computation with equivalent and symbolic expressions are some Habits of minds used inside this lesson.

10/27/12 Today's Homework

 I will be using the Alg mats for solving Alg equations with my students.  It was quite fun and beneficial in class at UNT on 10/27/12.

Ryan Rowlands

how am I going to incorporate factoring into my lessons.

We are beginning to start on function this six weeks. I plan to introduce the lesson that was given to us in September. I best way I could do this is by reintroducing the algebra tiles to my students and demonstrating area again. I will then see how they retained what we talked about in the first six weeks.