Why we need to teach algebra.

Why we need to teach algebra.  Read the article

This is a HOT article about cultural differences and education.  No matter what your opinion about this topic is, you will be emotionally moved.  Having taught in an inner city school in Houston for ten years and now ten years in rural northern Michigan, I find many of the comments in this article to be racist and narrow minded.  What do you think?  Go to the article and make a comment.

Here is an excellent video made by Will Richardson (our textbook author) about the state of education in our country, the changes that need to be made, and the mistake of basing success on test scores:

Digital Textbooks

This article, by Charlie Osborne with CNET,  is about a company call Kno that is teaming up with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to offer digital textbooks for $9.99.  The K-12 state specific books available through the app come with interactive features including automatic flash cards of key terms, a journal of student's notes, and links to relevant academic material including video.  Sounds like a great idea.  It's too bad that schools cannot pick up the tab.  I wonder how many lower socio-economic families will be willing or able to spend the $60.00 so their children won't have to lug a backpack filled with heavy books to school and back home.