Author: Josh Rappaport http://www.mathkits.com Retail: $22.95 Phone: 1-800-308-math Fax: 1-505-438-7742 Singing Turtle Press #700 4350 Airport Rd. #5 Santa Fe, NM 87505
Those of you who have been getting the newsletter this fall should immediately recognize the name of Josh Rappaport - our math expert who has a regular column in the newsletter!
He has a wonderful math newsletter called the 'Algebra Times' that has a math lesson, quiz and other practical help appropriate for about 4th or 5th grade up. I have reviewed his book the 'Algebra Survival Kit' and hope that you will keep this resource in mind when it comes to algebra.
Josh states that this is "the conversational guide for the thoroughly befuddled". I would have to agree that this is a perfect tool for those who are lost in Algebra Land. There are two kinds of people out there when it comes to algebra - those who get it and those who don't. I am not trying to be mean here but remember back and you will recall when that light bulb went on for algebra. It is like having someone lift up the shades in a dark room!
I believe that Josh has done a wonderful job with this little book. I even went so far as to test it with my two oldest children who are 16 and 13. They both thought the book was cute, easy to understand, and made sense out of algebra. No, this is not a stand-alone book to teach algebra unless you took each question (section) and created your own problems, which none of us has the time to do. This book is however a perfect tool to assist a parent or child that is suffering from 'algebraphobia' and 'variable-itis'.
The book is broken down into common sections such as: absolute value, order of operations and like terms, radical, equations, factoring, canceling, coordinate plane, exponents, positive and negative numbers, sets of numbers, and the all important word problems! You use the kit as a 1) quick reference guide 2) memorization tool 3) self-teaching program and 4) a survival buddy. I especially like the handy reference chart in the back of the book that you can pull out and take with you. A cute little game is also included on the inside of the book cover.
Josh explains the 'why study algebra' and 'what is algebra' thoughts right at the start. The book then proceeds in a question and answer style. I like the way that this format flowed and how easy it was to use and to skip to other sections to look up something. Josh answers questions with a logical approach that is easy to understand. (He remembered that we all aren't math professors out here! Thanks Josh!)
I would recommend this book not just for your children who are studying algebra but also for those parents who will be teaching it shortly. I could see this being used as a refresher for your brain on all that algebra you learned well, you know, awhile back? For a sample page please visit Josh's website or write him at: josh@mathkits.com