Math Week of 9/22/08

Welcome back fuzzy math brains! We have spent some time at the beginning of the year talking about WHY our brains are slow to warm up after summer break? The reason: we have to re-grow the math region of our brains as we get back into the swing of being back in school! For more info on our brains and math check out: http://www.brainrules.net/

With this in mind, we have spent the first couple weeks reviewing algebra concepts from last year, such as solving for x and graphing linear lines. This week we are jumping back in where the students left off last year solving systems of equations (finding the point of intersection of two linear lines). We are practicing using two different methods: the Equal Values Method and the Substitution Method. If your brain is feeling fuzzy as you help your daughter with her math, check out the CPM website http://www.cpm.org/. There you will find a parent guide and the text we are using is called: Algebra Connections (AC).

I have encouraged girls who would like to work one-on-one to schedule individual meetings with Bert or me during lunch and after school. We are also offering to give girls extra practice with review topics. If your daughter is having trouble and needs review with a particular topic, please encourage her to seek out extra help or practice problems from one of us!

Also, an interesting article on math from the NY Times: Gut Instinct's Surprising Role in Math