How To Teach Algebra: Collecting Like Terms

Bring out the power of grouping, equivalent representations, and efficiency

How To Teach Algebra: Collecting Like Terms:

“Why am I learning this?” “When will I ever use this?”

These questions have to be the most asked questions when we teach and introduce basic algebra to our students. When I first started teaching math I would just show example after example of how to simplify expressions by collecting like terms hoping that it “just sunk in”!

If we are truly going to fuel sense making in our students with the math we teach we have to get students to see the power in grouping similar items together has on efficiently solving problems. We have to put our students in situations that drives the need to simplify!

Jon shares three activities he uses in his class to introduce and strengthen the topic of simplifying expressions by collecting like terms.

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