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S U M M A R Y
You do math everyday.
In the workshop you used the internet to choose a car and make financing decisions to buy that car. To do this you applied your everyday knowledge of algebra. You used variables—amounts that change in value—when you adjusted the down payment, interest rate and loan term to reflect different situations. And you used the skill of looking for patterns and relationships between variables when you studied the information you recorded in the table to investigate how the differences in down payment, interest rate and term of loan effected the monthly payments and total cost of the car.
Algebra is taught in middle school.
It used to be that only high school students learned algebra. But now math educators believe that it is helpful for students to develop the reasoning and skills that algebra requires starting in the lower grades. In middle school, students develop a deep understanding of variables. They also learn to use tables of values to identify patterns. By getting a head start with important concepts like these, more students get the chance to really understand the basic ideas of algebra before they are formally introduced to Algebra and the mysteries of X.
Today’s classrooms are different.
Your children may be learning math in ways that seem very different than the ways you did. Many of today’s math classrooms are equipped with computers, the internet and other kinds of technology that are used to help build mathematical knowledge. In the workshop, you used the internet to help you find information about cars and investigate financing options. Each time you changed your down payment, length of loan or interest rate, you saw the effects in your monthly payment and total cost. As you made more and more attempts, you noticed mathematical patterns helped you find a way to afford the car within your budget. The technology, did not give the answers away, it helped make the mathematics more accessible—enabling you to quickly see the relationships among the variables and make an informed decision.
You can help your child with math.
You can do lots of things to help your child succeed at math. Ask your child about what they’re learning in math class. Look over your child’s homework. Have conferences with your child’s math teacher. You can also help your child by accessing resources beyond yourself. The internet offers a wealth information that you can use to help your child with homework, find mathematical puzzles and games for review or enrichment, and learn about important issues in education and parenting. The internet can help you find answers to questions that you don’t know how to answer yourself. Try using the internet with your child. If you don’t have an internet connection at home, you can often make use of one at a library, school or community center.
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