Solving Equations: An Algebra Intervention

Solving Equations: An Algebra Intervention

About the AuthorDr. Bradley Witzel is an assistant professor of special education at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He has experience in the classroom as a teacher of students with both high- and low-incidence disabilities. Dr. Witzel has given numerous professional presentations and published research and practitioner articles concerning algebra education and math education for students with and without learning disabilities.Dr. Paul J. Riccomini is an Associate Professor at Clemson University. A former high school math teacher and special education teacher, he provides numerous professional development workshops focused on improving mathematics education through the application of evidenced-based practices. Dr. Riccomini is the author of several research and practitioner articles describing instruction strategies to more effectively teach math.The author team of Brad Witzel, PhD, and Paul Riccomini, PhD, are professors whose research emphases are mathematics education and students with exceptional learning needs. Simple Equations is their third intervention for struggling students in mathematics with Pearson. Teachers have been using their interventions around the globe and have found wonderful and unique success. They have also written a textbook on Computations of Fractions: Math Intervention for Elementary and Middle Grades Students, which came out in 2009, and Computation of Integers: Math Intervention for Elementary and Middle Grades Students, coming out in 2010.This timely new book is filled with essential research-based information that teachers and pre-service teachers alike need in order to help more students achieve mathematical standards by employing the concrete to representational to abstract (CRA) sequence of instruction with forms of algebraic equations. Proven to help students of all levels acquire and retain knowledge of mathematical concepts better than repeated abstract instruction alone, the CRA sequence of instruction employs: the use of hands-on manipulatives, learning to draw pictures of the steps, and finally transitioning from the pictorial representations to true abstract instruction expected by most state standards. Features placement test and fluency probes to help inform instruction and improve student proficiency. The research for CRA is powerful. However, there are few models out there that guide teachers in their delivery. All practicing teachers of mathematics, especially those who teFrom the Back CoverBradley S. Witzel and Paul J. RiccominiSolving Equations: An Algebra InterventionThis timely new book is filled with essential research-based information that teachers and pre-service teachers alike need in order to help more students achieve mathematical standards by employing the concrete to representational to abstract (CRA) sequence of instruction with forms of algebraic equations.Proven to help students of all levels acquire and retain knowledge of mathematical concepts better than repeated abstract instruction alone, the CRA sequence of instruction employs: the use of hands-on manipulatives, learning to draw pictures of the steps, and finally transitioning from the pictorial representations to true abstract instruction expected by most state standards. Features placement test and fluency probes to help inform instruction and improve student proficiency. The research for CRA is powerful. However, there are few models out there that guide teachers in their delivery. All practicing teachers of mathematics, especially those who teach math to students who struggle or who have a disability, will benefit greatly from the techniques, content, and research of Witzel and Riccominis new book, a research-based, hands-on, applicable guide for mathematics educators everywhere.Paul J. Riccomini, Ph.D., is a former high school math teacher and special education teacher. He provides numerous professional development workshops focused on improving