TeachAde

Social Issues in Math

Discussion

Report Discussion as Inappropriate / Spam

Race issues

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress 2000 Summary - 16% of African Americans, 17% of Latino, 38% of Asian Americans and 28% of Caucasions take Algebra in 8th grade. What is up with these numbers? National Assessment of Educational Progress 2000 Summary Data Tables-Student Data Tables, Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education 2001 via http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/equals/ss2005.html

Laura Z. Newman

Are we teaching Algebra I too early? I tutor many many students and find they never grasped Algebra I in 8th grade, but get it in 9th or 10th. My tutees complain there is no context for them - they don't see how Algebra I works in their world. Of course I only tutor the ones who are struggling ~ Laura

August 10, 2006, 12:00 am [ report as inappropriate ]

George Warriner

Hi Laura,

I don't know if it is too early...some don't "get it" until college. But I think you hit on something with the context. I helped teach a group of low achieving/low expectation 8th graders (mostly D's and F's). We gave them graphing calculators and put everyting into context - geometry or money or something. They all compared well to the traditional Algebra 8th graders. So yesh - I think context is definitely the key.

August 11, 2006, 12:00 am [ report as inappropriate ]

taralane2

I can tell you from experience, Algebra is not pushed for minorities such as African American and Latino... Those students are defintely left behind in the catorgory of math and science...

April 10, 2007, 12:00 am [ report as inappropriate ]

Social Issues in Math

Group Members

Group Resources

Discussion

Race issues