“Many students disconnect mathematics from common sense. Transition to Algebra uses explorations, problems, and puzzles to build the logic of algebra to help students make sense of what they are learning.”
June Mark, E. Paul Goldenberg, Mary Fries, Jane M. Kang, and Tracy Cordner
Research shows that success in algebra…
…opens doors to more advanced math
…is an eventual predictor of graduation
…acts as a gateway to a bachelor’s degree
…is linked to job readiness and higher earning once the student enters the workforce.
Yet study after study consistently establishes that as many as 30, and even 40% of students need to retake algebra to achieve proficiency. Simply reteaching the same content the same way has not proven to be an effective solution, but Transition to Algebra is.
Transition to Algebra (TTA) grew out of an initiative of the Learning and Teaching Division at Education Development Center (EDC), an acclaimed curriculum development laboratory specializing in science and mathematics instruction. Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, TTA was designed to quickly raise the competence and confidence of first-year algebra students by equipping them with a set of broadly applicable tools and strategies. Building on EDC’s hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning, TTA uses algebraic logic puzzles and explorations to help students shift their ways of thinking from the concrete procedures of arithmetic to the abstract reasoning that success with algebra requires.
Series components
Transition To Algebra instruction is organized around 12 curriculum units that make it easy to use in a variety of settings, providing support in areas where students need the most help.
12 Student Worktexts
- one for each unit of study (available in packs of 10, 20, or 30)
- includes explorations, optional hands-on activities and games, and plenty of tiered practice materials
- connects to and extends a range of algebra course topics
- 80 combined lessons and 20 algebraic explorations
12 Teaching Guides
- one for each unit of study
- begin with a brief but comprehensive unit overview
- offer pointers for guiding productive mathematical discussion including prompts and tips
- supports TTA lessons, explorations, practice problems, and related activities
12 Answer Keys
- one for each unit of study
- offers teachers easy access to to worktext solutions
Series Overview
- outlines the research and guiding principles behind TTA
- describes ways of tailoring instruction to address different instructional needs
