Customer Reviews

Hands-On Algebra: Ready-To-Use Games & Activities for Grades 7-12

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My major complaint with this book is that there is too much TEXT!The author is apparently unaware that teachers need activities QUICKLY! I like reading, but when I want math activities, I don't want to have to read 600 pages to get them!
Some of the material is way too elementary for high-school students. Many of the activities are too complicated. Students who don't understand basic math aren't going to understand the directions to the activities either! Also, most of the material in the book is common knowledge and is available from other sources.

Hands on Algebra appears to rely heavily on Algebra tiling. That is, using tiles to demonstrate factoring, polynomial multiplication, etc. I was looking for more of a projects book. If you are looking for a book on how to use tiles in the classroom, THIS IS IT. Otherwwise, look elsewhere.

Hands On Algebra is a resource book for teacher use in Algebra I. It is not designed for independent student use. New concepts are developed with manipulatives first, then more work is done with games and/or graphing calculators. Detailed instructions are given with illustrations to help teachers inexperienced with hands on instruction to correctly apply math language to the manipulative actions. Very effective with average students and students with learning disabilities.

I believe this book is much easier to teach from than the text book, Mathematical Reasoning, that was issued for an education course I was required to take five or six years ago. It is also a better book because of the hands on games, which motivate students to learn more. I couldn't indicate five stars because I've only used a couple of chapters so far.

I bought this book thinking that there would be useful games and activities included that I could share with my students. Instead, I found out that it is a book about how to use algebra tiles. The book is very thick and wordy and I do not have the time to sort through it. I am giving it away without ever using it. This is not a practical or useful teaching tool. Do not waste your time or money.

I have been teaching Algebra I to high school freshman for 8 years. I bought this book hoping to find some new, clever activities or games. Instead, I found a fat book all based on Algebra tiles. I do believe Algebra tiles are useful and good for laying down a strong conceptual framework, but I would never use them all year long. The students would get burned out on tiles, just as any other activity or manipulative. I can't comment on whether there are any powerful lessons in this book, I haven't had time to read through it carefully. When I need an activity, I need one quickly. I have tried referring to this book four or five times, but keep putting it back on my shelf because the activities take too long to read through and understand. Maybe during the summer I will have the time to look at it closer.

I finished reading this book two weeks ago and wow! It was amazingly simple to comprehend, but still covered what I needed to know for 8th grade. I will probably refer back to this book until about 11th grade.