NCTCA 2022

Algebra classes are often focused on following a memorized procedure that helps students get answers without learning and investigating algebraic relationships. We need to help them learn and trust the math rather than memorize. The hard part about algebra is building the equations. But students are mostly given the equations and are just asked to find an answer. So they miss out on the real study of algebra. Answers are important but they are not the math. The math happens on the way to the answer. In this workshop, teachers will be asked to look at algebra in a very different light by using “jumps” on an open number line. We will use a model and interesting contexts that allow us to talk about much more than the answer. We will look at the big ideas behind algebra and show how kids can both see and show the math rather than just memorize and reproduce a procedure.