From the Nov. 13, 1996 Daily Report Card:
-> *2   TEACHING ALGEBRA:  AMERICA MUST START FROM SCRATCH
->    A group of researchers, led by James Kaput of the U of
-> Massachusetts-Dartmouth studied algebra instruction in U.S.
-> schools and compared it with the curriculum used in "more
-> mathematically successful countries," writes Wisconsin Center for
-> Education Research (WCER) Highlights (Fall 1996).  Their
-> conclusion:  " . . . despite its almost universal acceptance in the
-> U.S., our algebra curriculum -- late, abruptly introduced and
-> isolated -- is simply beyond repair," writes WCER.  WCER is
-> located at the school of education, U of Wisconsin-Madison.
->    "It will not suffice to tinker at the edges by creating
-> prealgebra courses, introducing the same algebra earlier, or
-> trying to fix the Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 courses in their
-> standard position as isolated high school courses," said Kaput.
-> "Rather, the development of algebraic reasoning needs to begin in the
-> early grades.  It should be interwoven with the learning of other
-> mathematics and should continue through the school years as an
-> integral part of the K-12 math curriculum."
->    Specifically, the processes of generalizing and formalizing,
-> which fom the basis of "what makes thinking mathematical" should be a
-> "defining characteristic of a curriculum rather than a topic that is
-> covered," added Kaput.  "The intrinsic embededness of
-> algebraic reasoning is violated by treating it as a separate
-> course."
->    WCER also notes that algebra consists of a "web of
-> languages," for expressing and manipulating generality.  This
-> position also supports an "early and integrated algebra," writes the
-> newsletter.
->    However, early introduction of algebra places new demands on
-> teachers, most of whom do not possess sufficient math skills to be
-> able to integrate algebra in their teaching.  WCER holds that teacher
-> education programs and credentialing and instructional
-> materials must change before any school can embrace the work of Kaput
-> and his colleagues.
->    Kaput was chair of the Algebra Working Group, one of seven
-> international networks of researchers created by WCER's National
-> Center for Research in Mathematical Sciences Education, explains
-> WCER.  NCRMSE, directed by UW-Madison education professor Thomas
-> Romberg, is designed to "provide a research base for the reform of
-> school mathematics nationwide as reflected in the National
-> Council of Teachers of Mathematics' 'Curriculum and Evaluation
-> Standards for School Mathematics' and the 'Professional Standards for
-> Teaching Mathematics,'" writes the newsletter.
->    The Algebra Working Group champions the teaching of
-> algebraic reasoning to all students and the integration of
-> algebra with other mathematics.
->    For more information, see the Algebra Working Group postings
-> at the Web site http:\\tango.mth.umassd.edu\AWG\WecomeAWG.html.
-> NCRMSE research findings are posted on the UW-Madison's
-> gopher server, "WiscInfo," under "newsletters and Other Special
-> Interest Publications," and on the WCER Web site at
-> http:\\www.wcer.wisc.edu.
--- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10
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