GO-Math+Concepts+and+Procedures+Map

Name
__Graphic Organizer __ //-Linear Equations Guide (7th grade)// //-Factoring Guide (7th grade)//

Type
ENGAGE

Purpose
-To have students work with multiple modalities of representation of linear expressions: linguistic, physical, visual, and symbolic. -To help students develop a conceptual understanding of both the organization of linear expressions and of the procedures used to conduct arithmetic operations with them.

Range
Grade 3+

Fruitility
Students like having maps through this new territory of Algebra. These organizers are designed to be step-by-step guides through both procedures and //representational translations// (translating algebra tile constructions to a sketch, then to words and symbols, etc.). The maps try to show clearly **where** to go next, leaving the task of actually **getting there** to the student. The guides aim to have students understand ideas and develop skills as opposed to memorizing words and deeds.

Features
The organizers are designed with quality graphic design practices in mind: the choice of fonts, the use of italics, boldface, underline, and the use of simple graphic elements all aim to communicate new mathematical ideas clearly. Providing enclosed or pre-formatted areas for student responses throughout the guides helps maintain the organization of ideas that is the main purpose of this strategy. The guides act as sorts of //harvesters// of the many new ideas that have recently sprouted: the distributive property, like terms, variables, and coefficients. They also focus on new growth of older (usually misunderstood) ideas: operations with positive and negative numbers.