MathWise Algebra Book 1 begins byintroducing key terms and concepts relating to solving equations. With the use of answer frames, the book encourages good algebra technique, a key skill for students to master as they progress to further in their math courses.
The book provides examples, mathematical reasoning, and practice. The answer frames and speech bubbles help students along the way, with learning in a sequential, logical, and organized format. Algebra Book 1, like the others in the series, teaching students in manageable chunks. Too many students get lost when the explanations and examples are excessively long or detailed.
The heart of the book is learning to solve equations by isolating the variable, byundoing whatever was done to the variable. Students need a threshold number of problems to become proficient in this skill. To minimize tediumwiththebasicequations they need to solveto keep up the momentum, an effort was made to intersperse other concepts in between these pages.
One helpful suggestion is to have students alternate between the MathWise Algebra Book 1 and MathWise Integers. The two concepts of algebra and integers go hand-in-hand, and give students increasedvariety in their instruction.
My experience in teaching algebra is that students often gain practice with math facts as they solve equations - a hidden, but welcome benefit!