Product Description

Variables and Patterns - part of the Connected Mathematics series.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #803965 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-30
• Format: Student Edition
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 76 pages

Customer Reviews

the new new math
Actually I am reviewing "Introducing Algebra", Connected Mathematics 2, which I assume to be the newer (and hopefully improved) version. It is possible that the authors have been too close to their product, and reluctant to stand back and see what they are truly delivering as an introduction to an incredible area of knowledge. This textbook is becoming hugely successful because of intelligent marketing/lobbying efforts (both the developers and the National Science Foundation funders), and the product is easily mistaken as a convenient shrink-wrapped solution to a perceived crisis.

Proponents of the new Standards-Based Learning, such as the developers of the subject textbook, strive to create a framework within which children can actively build their own understanding of mathematics. The focus on self-learning is good, however, pundits in the field make the error of assuming that past mathematics curricula were devoid of hands-on exploration and that earlier materials were limited to "memorization, rote learning, and the application of facts and procedures". The "Introduction to Algebra" follows this pattern of castigation to a fault. The "thin" volume rigidly avoids organized discussion or exercise series that could be mistaken for "dry". The book includes a small number of engaging examples of how real world problems can be tackled mathematically, followed by a stream of diverse and sometimes subtle exercises, each of which is to be "explored" by the child and whoever happens to be around. There is no build-up of basic tools or principles, or even a reference area to corral them. There can be a beauty to the systematic process of getting equations to reveal new statements in a systematic way; this is virtually shunned here. Imagine learning a language via the immersion technique, but rather than doing it in an environment surrounded by native speakers, one contrives this via a minimalist textbook. I can work with my kids with this material, but it is real WORK, and it is quite understandable why some parents are stunned by what they are presented. The text may be highly useful within a larger framework or program (I wish I had copies of my old UICSM books from middle school), but it is much less than, and hence not credible as, an "Introduction to Algebra".

The serious difficulty I have with this text is that it is becoming widely mandated as a solution to our mathematics literacy problem when the curriculum isn't really the broken element. At any moment, and anywhere, simple mathematics can be used with/by children to describe a stunning number of properties of our physical world. It is a beautiful language that all children readily learn. It is therefore almost criminal that a mathematics-fearing population denies growing minds the excitement and pleasure of becoming fluent with this most logical means of expression. One of the telling symptoms of our crisis is that the educational system believes and declares mathematics is an "elective". At young ages children learn a number of fallacies from their elders: that some "types" of people more easily learn this language than others, and that once they have mastered the arithmetic of domestic fiscal issues a wider exploration of the mathematics language is no longer vital. I believe the problem would begin to disappear if everyone who collaborates with children in mathematics learning is a person who loves mathematics, loves learning and loves children. The curriculum materials could consist of just about anything that is well considered, but they should be selected by the teacher and he/she must be given the freedom to develop his/her own best practices.

not instructional
My daughter is being taught from this book. It has no instructions in it what so ever. When she brings it home for homework and unless you know algebra already it is totally useless. It is the most confusing book to work from. Some of the stories in it are not even relevant to the problem or the answers, which make it totally confusing for the student. My recomendation is not to purchase this book and if you school is using it, GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DON'T TURN BACK!!

Horrible
This is the most horrible book for teaching math I have ever seen! It is totally without any merit as a reference for the children to follow when trying to work at home and relies heavily on teachers knowing the subject and being able to teach it to ALL students. There are NO building blocks much less any explainations as to what the kids are supposed to be learning in it or how to even perform any of the requested tasks. I do not recommend this book for ANY school.