Re: Excuse my ignorance....


"Me" <Stuart@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:memo.20060122123648.1708A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> An M3 or MM3 is a foundation licence callsign. The test is
>> set so that an average 6 year old could pass it.
>
> How many 6 year olds have passed it ?
>
> Does the 'average' 6 year old understand basic algebra these days then ?
>

Calculations such as you cite are around the KS1 stage in maths, although
they would typically be set question in SATs (the standard tests pupils take
at the end of each Key Stage) as division of money problems. KS1 covers ages
5 to 7. They would also be expected to be able to use symbols in maths.
They will also have the basics of using maths to solve problems, rather than
just "doing sums".

Of course, attainment varies from child to child, school to school etc.
but, while maybe not every "average" six year old may not be able to make
the transition from "sharing money problems" to a less familiar division
problem, I'd expect those above average to be able to do so.

In fact, sometimes youngsters can handle algebra better than older children
or adults, for the simple reason they haven't the baggage of thinking
algebra is hard and their minds are open to learn.

By the end of KS2 (aged 11) I often see pupils with quite good ability to
work with simple algebra (I teach KS3 to KS5- ie 11 - 18). If there are
problems it isn't usually that they can't manipulate algebraic expressions
but that they've been taught "non-standard" methods that don't extend too
well into more complex algebra.

__
73
Brian
www.g8osn.org.uk



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Regarding EVALUATE TRUE
    ... I am teaching Intermediate Algebra tonight at a community college. ... Your students are lucky. ... Set operations, Union and Intersection, and Set Complementation, are ... was physically tortured by a female maths teacher who hated me (she made ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: Classifying fiction as science fiction - the Kiss of Death?
    ... approaches to curricula -- it seems to me that some algebra is broadly ... The American method of dividing up maths continues to bewilder me. ... learn geometry, statistics, algebra, etc etc. ... something like studying geometry one year, ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: Dumbing down?
    ... understanding of maths is necessary to be able to program. ... exactly what power over X's truth? ... "Algebra is the metaphysics of arithmetic." ... "As long as algebra is taught in school, ...
    (comp.lang.lisp)
  • Re: Dumbing down?
    ... understanding of maths is necessary to be able to program. ... who should know better than I) even /see/ maths in programming?! ... "Algebra is the metaphysics of arithmetic." ...
    (comp.lang.lisp)
  • Re: dyslexic child? (long)
    ... English ability was considerably worse than maths, ... But, from a PhD in Engineering who got a "D" in high school algebra, I'll tell ...
    (misc.kids)