15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Reach for the stars, grab a dust bunny, October 14, 2001
This review is from: Math Attack: How to Reduce Math Anxiety In The Classroom, At Work and In Everyday Personal Use (Paperback)
I bought this book because I am a ex-college professor who is concerned about math education. If this book is considered to be a significant contribution to the field of math education, as the professional reviewers would have us believe, then I understand why our education system is in such a sorry state.
The title of this book promises a great deal, "How to Reduce Math Anxiety in the Classroom, at Work, and in Everyday Personal Life", but only delivers on the first topic. To be fair, if you teach math to children, this book contains some useful ideas that will help you to do a better job. However, here is what you get on the topic of how to reduce personal math anxiety: three pages of tips on how to take math tests, and two pages of advice on how to study math. The balance of the book is either addressed to teachers, or is irrelevant. If you are trying to cope with your own math anxiety, I can't imagine how this book could be of much help. Don't waste your money.
The text of this book is only 75 small pages, in a large font. The first 8 pages contain a history of mathematics that contributes little to the topic at hand. Several paragraphs of reminiscences about the author's days in college are interesting, but their relevance to the history of mathematics is dubious.
In the 'literature review', the author explores what are said to be the seven styles of learning that students exhibit. She laments that most teachers only address two of them. She then describes three other styles of learning that are neglected by teachers. What about the other two? Don't they even deserve a mention? Ms. Curtain-Phillips needs to be reminded that 7-2=5, not 3.
The most distressing aspect of this book is that it is so badly organized and poorly written. I could write pages on this topic. However, I'll restrict myself to just two examples. What are we to make of this sentence? "Other teachers have noticed the author higher student success rate (less failures) at the end of the first nine weeks marking period." Even if you insert a verb into that sentence, it still leaves something to be desired. "While researching for this book, the author will determine through a survey whether these students are engaged in mathematics class and analyse their learning styles." I thought the book was already written. Good Lord Almighty, hire an editor! Wait, I'm telling a teacher with an M.Ed. to hire an editor because she can't write an English sentence? Think about it. I'm not sure if this book gives much insight into why Johnny can't add, but it does help show why Johnny can't read!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
MATH ATTACK IS WORTH THE 15 DOLLARS, August 8, 2003
This review is from: Math Attack: How to Reduce Math Anxiety In The Classroom, At Work and In Everyday Personal Use (Paperback)
I am a 15 year old sophmore student at Dutch Fork High School who struggles with math. When reading this book, Math Attack, I felt conformable with approaching math anxiety. This book also gave helpful strategies with it.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Book for Teachers, Parents, Students and, December 24, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Math Attack: How to Reduce Math Anxiety In The Classroom, At Work and In Everyday Personal Use (Paperback)
I don't know what the other two reviewers are talking about. Math Attack is an excellent book. Before purchasing the book, I checked further and saw that it is listed with Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (enc.org) for Math and Science; the book is also located in my local library. Math Attack is also found at my daughter's college library.
I later attended one of Curtain-Phillips' math anxiety seminars at the SC Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She was informative, entertaining and well prepared. I would say to others check for yourself. She also has an excellent article on mathgoodies.com Her book is also listed as a recommended reading materialfrom this website designed for and by a mathematics teacher. Curtain-Phillips also has an informative website http://www.mathattack.7p.com which also list other reviews.
So I just suggest do not take the word of these two mathematics teachers, but check further and judge for yourself.
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