Math Confidence Newsletter
Volume 21
February 2011
In This Issue
Math Confidence:You Tube
Recommended Reading
Get Smart! Take the SAT!
Calculators -- Plus or Minus?
Brain Teaser
Math Confidence Video on You Tube   
Graphing Calc Video 0211
Math in the 21st Century:Graphing Calculators
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Quote of the Month
"It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan"
Eleanor Roosevelt
Diane Ravitch's latest book addresses recent trends in American schools -- especially the testing mandated by No Child Left Behind and the drive for a national curriculum.   The US has no national exit exam although the SAT, ACT and GED are high school level standardized national tests.  The National Council of Supervisors of Math published Robin's article "Get Smart! Take the SAT!" in its Winter 2011 issue.  Math Confidence's video highlights how the graphing calculator has changed Math and Math education.
Recommended Reading
Death and Life of the Great American School System
In this timely book, longtime education expert Diane Ravitch discusses the complications that followed the well-intended No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  Ravitch critiques many ideas for reform including charter schools, teacher evaluations and privatization.  The subtitle "How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education" describes the importance of learning over testing, the benefit of family involvement and the need for a national curriculum and higher quality testing.
Get Smart! Take the SAT!

   

Robin's article "Get Smart! Take the SAT!" in the National Council of Supervisors of Math Winter 2011 newsletter was inspired by taking the SAT in 2009.  Studying the College Board's materials is a great strategy as they are very representative of the actual exam. 

By viewing test prep as an opportunity for learning, people can improve their brain fitness (just like going to the gym increases physical fitness).  There are benefits to test-taking beyond trying to improve your score -- taking tests makes you smarter -- as studying grammar and reading comprehension made me sharper.  In January, the New York Times ran an article on how test-taking can cement knowledge.  This year, I am studying for the SAT Math IIs in June and the ACT in the Fall.

Math Confidence blog on the SAT 

NYT on Test-Taking Cements Knowledge

NCSM Web Site

SAT Question of the Day

Register for the SAT

Register for the ACT
The Great Calculator Debate: Plus or Minus?
Life has sure changed since the 1900s and technology has invaded everyday tasks including learning Math. Photo of TI-84 While the SAT and ACT and other exams allow calculators, the questions have changed since the 1900s and are no longer purely computational.  In fact, many of the problems are oriented toward analytical and critical thinking so the calculator sometimes does not help at all!!  While the graphing calculator allows for more understanding of Math, it may also decrease mental Math.  Here are some links that will help you form your own opinion about the use of technology in Math education.  

Online Discussion on Calculator Use

The Calculator on Wikipedia

Math Confidence blog on Graphing Calculators

Texas Instruments Calculators
Brain Teaser 
Numbers thru Funnel

There are 8 similar balls. Seven of them weigh the same and the eighth is a bit heavier.  How would you identify the heavier ball if you could use a two-pan balance scale only twice?

 

Answer to January's Brain Teaser: 4022

January 2011 Brain Teaser and Solution 
 

Thanks for reading!  How can we make this newsletter better?  Please send comments and suggestions to Robin mathconfidence@aol.com
 
Sincerely,
 
Robin "the Math Lady" Schwartz