Pre-Algebra Out Loud

An essential guide for teaching students in grades 5-9 how to write about math Learning to read and write efficiently regarding mathematics helps students to understand content at a deeper level. In this third book in the popular math 'Out Loud' series, Mower provides a variety of reading and writing strategies and activities suitable for elementary and middle school pre-algebra courses, covering such key skills as integers and exponents, fractions, decimals and percents, graphing, statistics, factoring, evaluating expressions, geometry and the basics of equations. Includes dozens of classroom tested  strategies and techniques Shows how reading and writing can be incorporated in any math class to improve math skills Provides  unique, fun activities that will keep students interested and make learning stick This important guide offers teachers easy-to-apply lessons that will help students develop a deeper understanding of mathematics.

About the Author ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction xiii 1 The Basic Tools of Algebra 1 Mini-Lesson 1.1 The Big Ideas of Algebra 2 Activity 1.1 The Writing Is on the Wall 4 Activity 1.2 Semantic Word Maps 7 Activity 1.3 Math Glossary 10 Activity 1.4 Concept Circles 12 Mini-Lesson 1.2 Solving Simple Equations 16 Activity 1.5 Math Story 18 Activity 1.6 Algorithm Writing 20 Activity 1.7 One-Minute Summary 23 2 Exploring Infinite Sets 25 Mini-Lesson 2.1 Infinite Sets 26 Activity 2.1 Magic Square 28 Activity 2.2 One-Minute Summary 33 Mini-Lesson 2.2 Properties of the Real Numbers 34 Activity 2.3 Graphic Organizers 38 Activity 2.4 Reading Math Symbols 41 Activity 2.5 Math Glossary 43 Activity 2.6 Semantic Feature Analysis 45 Activity 2.7 In Your Own Words: A Paraphrasing Activity 49 3 Topics in Integers 53 Mini-Lesson 3.1 Egyptian Multiplication 54 Activity 3.1 The Writing Is on the Wall 57 Activity 3.2 Concept Cards 59 Activity 3.3 Frayer Model 61 Mini-Lesson 3.2 Integral Exponents 64 Activity 3.4 What’s My Rule? 67 Activity 3.5 Comparison-and-Contrast Matrix 70 Activity 3.6 Knowledge Ratings 74 4 Number Theory 77 Mini-Lesson 4.1 Divisibility Rules 78 Activity 4.1 Number Riddles 81 Activity 4.2 In Your Own Words: A Paraphrasing Activity 84 Activity 4.3 Magic Square 86 Mini-Lesson 4.2 Greatest Common Denominator and Least Common Multiple 89 Activity 4.4 Semantic Feature Analysis 93 5 Fractions, Decimals, and Percents 99 Mini-Lesson 5.1 Pizza Math 100 Activity 5.1 What’s My Rule? 102 Activity 5.2 Writing Prompts 104 Mini-Lesson 5.2 Conversions 106 Activity 5.3 Comparison-and-Contrast Matrix 108 Activity 5.4 Semantic Word Maps 111 6 Equations and Inequalities 115 Mini-Lesson 6.1 Solving Multistep Equations 116 Activity 6.1 In Your Own Words: A Paraphrasing Activity 118 Activity 6.2 Method of Operation 121 Mini-Lesson 6.2 Solving Linear Inequalities 123 Activity 6.3 Translating Words into Algebra 126 Activity 6.4 Writing Word Problems 128 Activity 6.5 Math Glossary 131 Activity 6.6 Biographies of Algebraists 133 7 Visualizing Algebra by Graphing Lines 137 Mini-Lesson 7.1 The xy-Plane and Lines 138 Activity 7.1 Muddiest Point 141 Activity 7.2 Reading and Understanding Graphs 143 Activity 7.3 K-W-L 146 Mini-Lesson 7.2 The Slope of a Line 149 Activity 7.4 Semantic Feature Analysis 151 Activity 7.5 Anticipation Guide 154 8 Geometry 157 Mini-Lesson 8.1 Plane Figures 158 Activity 8.1 Geometric Figure Description 161 Activity 8.2 Semantic Feature Analysis 165 Mini-Lesson 8.2 Pyramids and Prisms 168 Activity 8.3 Writing a Method of Operation 170 Activity 8.4 Math Story 175 Activity 8.5 In Your Own Words: A Paraphrasing Activity 179 Activity 8.6 Biographies of Geometers 181 References 185