Questions?

Math in Dracut, MA

Cali's computation skills are weak, particularly with integer addition and subtraction involving mixed signs (positive and negatives) and operations with rational numbers (fractions), particularly understanding that -3/2 is the reduced form of -9/6. At home she should be using a calculator, although it is department policy to not allow one in class. For Algebra concepts, a tutor should work on step by step processes involving simplifying by distributing and combining like terms (Cali's work indicates she is confused about what a "like term" is) before balancing with inverse operations. This is the unit we just finished and that Cali is revising. Mastering this topic is key to progressing in Algebra. We are just beginning linear equations, where some recent assesments show she is missing the concept of slope and how it relates to coordinates. She is confusing (x,y) coordinates with slope. I would suggest that a tutor remediate the coordinate plane, plotting ordered pairs, then review slope, and move on to slope-intercept form of a line. A tutor familiar with a traditional Algebra curriculum will know how it progresses from there.

Sent by Peg on 12/7/12