Graduation and Learning Algebra Linked

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There's no crystal ball that predicts which kids will succeed in high school and beyond. But one clue that may surprise you is whether or not that student successfully completed algebra. Research has shown that children who complete 9th grade algebra finish school in greater numbers, tend to graduate from postsecondary educational institutions, and earn higher salaries even 20 years after graduating!

According to the National Research Council, "algebra is the gateway to higher math. Proficiency in algebra helps students solidify their proficiency in numbers and integrate their knowledge of math."

Laying the groundwork for the study of algebra can start even in the earliest grades. Parents and teachers can support the development of algebraic ways of thinking so kids don't have as much difficulty transitioning from elementary school arithmetic to middle school algebra.

"Even in kindergarten and first grade, you can introduce a student to algebraic reasoning just in the way you present a math problem," says Claire Gates of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Here's an example: If you have five marbles and Tommy has eight marbles, how many more marbles does Tommy have than you? That could lead children to the equation 5+x=8. "You're asking the child to consider the relationship among numbers and recognize that when you change one number, the others change as well," Gates notes.

Gates, a former math teacher who is now training other teachers, says it's also important to encourage children to solve problems on their own and then ask them to describe how they arrived at their answer. Some useful prompts are: how did you figure that out; why do you think that; can you build a model; is there another way to solve the problem?

In a group of a dozen children, there may be a dozen different ways to approach problem-solving: some kids might draw out the problem; others might use blocks or other "manipulatives;" and still others might rely on their fingers. By sharing different strategies, children are exposed to different ways of thinking about math. The parent or teacher can then guide them in finding which strategies are more efficient or easier than others.

You don't have to be a math whiz to help your child succeed in mathematics. Patience and encouragement go a long way, as does keeping a positive outlook toward math. "Avoid conveying negative attitudes toward math," advises the National Research Council. "Never tell children not to worry about a certain kind of math because it will never be used."

The Laboratory's Mathematics and Science Education Center Web site (http://www.nwrel.org/msec/) offers a range of resources for teachers and parents.

This column by Rhonda Barton is provided as a public service by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, a nonprofit institution working with schools and communities in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.