Hurdles and strategies in the teaching of algebra

Abstract

In talking about algebra in recent years with groups of teachers, various questions arose that were not aways simple to answer. For example, there were questions like: How would you respond to a pupil in an "intermediate tier group who asked what algebra was needed for? or how do you get them to wto writing (3x) 2 = 3x 2? and others. With a view to putting together a small collection of "hurdles and strategies" in the teaching of this curriculum area, experienced mathematics teachers across the country were asked to submit lists of questions about the teaching of algebra in general, or algebraic manipulation in particular, for which they felt answers/suggestions would be of value.