Text Project

Joni Seidel-Gomez
Fall Block 2016
TEKS: 6. B. 6. A-C. 7. A-D. and 9. A-C.
(6) Expressions, equations, and relationships. The student applies mathematical process
standards to use multiple representations to describe algebraic relationships. The student
is expected to: (A) Identify independent and dependent quantities from tables and
graphs; (B) write an equation that represents the relationship between independent and
dependent quantities from a table; and (C) represent a given situation using verbal
descriptions, tables, graphs, and equations in the form y = kx or y = x + b.
(7) Expressions, equations, and relationships. The student applies mathematical process
standards to develop concepts of expressions and equations. The student is expected to:
(A) Generate equivalent numerical expressions using order of operations, including
whole number exponents and prime factorization; (B) distinguish between expressions
and equations verbally, numerically, and algebraically; (C) determine if two expressions
are equivalent using concrete models, pictorial models, and algebraic representations; and
(D) generate equivalent expressions using the properties of operations: inverse, identity,
commutative, associative, and distributive properties.
(9) Expressions, equations, and relationships. The student applies mathematical process
standards to use equations and inequalities to represent situations. The student is expected
to: (A) Write one-variable, one-step equations and inequalities to represent constraints or
conditions within problems; (B) represent solutions for one-variable, one-step equations
and inequalities on number lines; and (C) write corresponding real-world problems given
one-variable, one-step equations or inequalities.

Books and Annotations

Algebra & Geometry is a guided book created to help the beginning algebra
student with vocabulary explanation. The book is aimed at providing
understanding of vocabulary in a fun and entertaining method to help the
students enjoy math and its concepts. Each term is depicted as a fun
Dr. Math Gets You Ready for Algebra is a book created to prepare students
or math enthusiasts for algebra. Dr. Math gives an introduction to the
vocabulary and real world understanding of algebra. The book provides
hints and explanations of commonly misunderstood concepts. The book is
written with real answers for real questions asked by students embarking
on their algebra journey.
The Math Forum. (2003). Dr. Math gets you ready for algebra. San Francisco: JosseyBass.

Math Curse is a picture book depicting math in real world situations. All
these real world situations or problems are depicted in a childs dialogue
and provides a funny and entertaining way for students to see and
understand math around them. The book allows the reader to think, solve
and check answers to all the problems in the book making it very
interactive for the reader.
Scieszka, J., Smith, L. (1995). Math curse. New York: Penguin Books.

Math Smarts! Problem Solving and Word Problem Smarts! Is a book

created to help students understand real world word problems and
mathematical concepts. The book explains an easy approach to word
problems in an effective way. Using the step by step concept laid out in
the book allows a student learn techniques to solving word problems.
Wingard-Nelson, R. (2012). Math smarts! Problem solving and word problem smarts!.
Enslow Publishers, Inc.

Word Problems Made Easy is a book to help math students with an easy to
follow step by step illustration of how to successfully complete word
problems. It depicts and dissects word problems and what a student needs
to understand about the word problem to solve it easily. The book is
broken down by steps and provides a few examples at the end. It is a
great resource for the early math student.
Wingard-Nelson, R., (2005). Word problems made easy. Enslow Publishers, Inc.

Readability Analysis
Algebra and Geometry Anything but Square
100 word sample
Sentences Flesch-Kincaid grade level
Ive got a bad rep for being a complicated brain
acher. But given the chance, I can show you how
to use letters instead of numbers to think in a new
and exciting way.
Sometimes, you have an answer but dont know
the question. At these times, my letters stand in
for the numbers that you dont know. Say Tyson
is 4 years old and Rosie is 26. At what age will
Rosie be three times Tysons age? Well, in x years
from now, Tyson will be 4 + x and Rosie will be
26 + x. Written as an equation, she will be three
times older than he is when 3(4+ x) = 26 + x.

4.4

!
Well rounded and complete, I have it organized.
The full-fat digit with no messy fractions or
trailing decimal parts, I am your bona-fide whole
number.
Ive got my feet firmly on the ground, helping
you count real-life things stuff like ice-cream
cones, friends, and skateboards. Say when did
you last hear half a telephone or 4.3 trucks?
Exactly! You simply cant get enough of my
wholesome goodness. My pals and I go into
infinity, and some of us even claim to be perfect!
Oh yeah, a perfect number is very special indeed.
Its proper factors add up to its total.

5.9

!
The divisor, Im a mean, green, calculatin
machine. I blast a number into smaller, equal size
portions. Because there are often more than two
ways to divide a number like this, the bigger the
number, the more of me there are. For example,
the number 9 has three factors (1,3,and 9), while
32 has six factors (1,2,4,8, 16, and 32). Figuring
out factors of really big numbers is as easy as
nailing Jell-O to the wall. It takes some serious
number crunching. The best way to do it is to
split a number into its prime factors.

7.4

Average reading level:

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 5.9

Reflection:
Algebra & Geometry Anything but Square
After reading this book and completing the Flesch-Kincaid readability statistics, I believe
that the grade level indicated above matches the grade level I would consider this book
for. 5.9 is right on track for a progressive fifth grader or early 6th grader. The vocabulary
in this book follows many of the Mathematics TEKS found in those grade levels and
would benefit a student in a middle school grade level with the math they are learning.
When I teach algebraic reasoning and the components to understanding the beginnings of
Algebra I would likely look to this book for a fun way to introduce or support the
vocabulary needed to learn and understand the concept.

Readability Analysis
Dr. Math gets you Ready for Algebra
100 word sample
Sentences Flesch-Kincaid grade level
As you learn about different sets of
numbers, it helps to think about when
certain groups are needed. When we
are simply counting, we use the natural
numbers, or counting numbers. Such
as 1, 2, 3, When we start
combining numbers by adding, the
natural numbers are still enough, but
we run into a little trouble when we
need to subtract. For example, if we
subtract 3-3, we need to have a zero.
When we have problems like 3-9, we
need to have negative whole numbers
in our collection. Integers are the set of
numbers that includes positive whole
numbers, negative whole numbers, and
zero.

8.7

!
Lets start with the greatest common
factor (GCF). The GCF of two (or
more) numbers is the product of all the
factors that the numbers have in
common. For example, to find the
greatest common factor of 32 and 76,
you would first express both as
products of their prime factors, then
look for factors common to both.
There are two 2s common to both
numbers, so is the greatest common
factor of 32 and 76.
Now lets find the least common
multiple (LCM). The LCM of two (or
more) numbers is the product of one
number times the factors of the other
number(s) that arent common to
both.

7.6

Why does the order of operations

really work? The order of operations
for interpreting a mathematical
expression is called a convention. A
long time ago, people just decided that
this was the order in which operations
should be performed. It has nothing to
do with magic or logic.
Its like asking, Why is it that when I
use the word cow, people tend to think
of a beast in a field that moos and
gives milk? A long time ago,
someone decided to call that particular
type of beast a cow and now everyone
agrees on the use of this word.

8.0

Average reading level:

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 8.1
Reflection:
Dr. Math Gets You Ready for Algebra
After completing the Flesch-Kincaid readability statistics on this book I agree with the
findings. This book is a little too difficult for a 6th grader. The terms and explanations,
though helpful would benefit a more advanced student or a student completing TEKS in
the 8th grade curriculum. The book gives very thorough definitions of common algebraic
vocabulary. I would use parts of this book for further explanation or understanding of
vocabulary terms if other resources were not helping.

Readability Analysis
100 word sample

Math Curse
Sentences Flesch-Kincaid grade level

On Monday in math class Mrs.

Fibonacci says, You know, you can
think of almost everything as a math
problem. On Tuesday I start having
problems. I wake up at 7:15. It takes
me 10 minutes to get dressed, 15
minutes to eat my breakfast, and 1
minute to brush y teeth. Suddenly, its
a problem. If my bus leaves at 8:00,
will I make it on time? How many
minutes in an hour? How many teeth
in 1 mouth? I look in my closet, and
the problems get worse. I have 1 white
shirt, 3 blue shirts, 3 striped shirts, and
that 1 ugly plaid shirt my Uncle Zeno
sent me.

10

I take the milk out for my cereal and

wonder, how many quarts in a gallon?
How many pints in a quart? How
many inches in a foot? How many feet
in a yard? How many yards in a
neighborhood? How many inches in a
pint? How many feet in my shoes? I
dont even bother to take out the cereal.
I dont want to know how many flakes
in a bowl. Mrs. Fibonacci has
obviously put a math curse on me.
Everything I look at or think about has
become a math problem. I try to get on
the bus without thinking about
anything.

12

4.2

3.5

Mrs. Fibonacci has this chart of what

month everyones birthday is in.
Which month has the most birthdays?
Which month has the fewest? Why
doesnt February have a w? Dont you
think this chart looks sort of like a row
of buildings? Do you ever look at
clouds and think they look like
something else? What does this
inkblot look like to you? The whole
morning is one problem after another?
There are 24 kids in my class. I just
know someone is going to bring in
cupcakes to share. We sit in 4 rows
with 6 desks in each row.

11

2.7

Average reading level:

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 3.5
Reflection:
Math Curse
This book is a fun book reflecting of how many children start to look at math and real
world problems. After completing the Flesch-Kincaid readability level I agree that the
vocabulary and verbiage of the book is on a more elementary level; however I feel this
book would be good for even middle school ages because of its fun take on seeing math
in a real world concept. It could provide a good starting point for a discussion focusing
students on areas in their everyday life that they see, use, or can use math. It goes along
great with the TEKS for writing real world problems.

Readability Analysis
Math Smarts! Problem Solving and Word Problem Smarts!
100 word sample
Sentences Flesch-Kincaid grade level
Key words in a sentence tell you what
operation is being performed and
where the equal sign belongs. Equals
and is are key words for the equal sign.
Write a word sentence first. Choose
variables (letters) to stand for the
numbers you do not know. Use
symbols and operators for the key
words in the sentence. Replace each
word or phrase with a number,
variable, or symbol. Six plus a number
is eleven. A number minus 1 equals 4.
Word problems are not always written
in a sentence that can be changed
easily to an algebraic equation. Rewrite
the problem as a sentence that uses
words you can change to algebra.

10

If you were to look up the meaning of

the word mathematics, you would find
that it is the study of numbers,
quantities, and shapes and how they
relate to each other. Mathematics is
important to all world cultures,
including our world of work. The
following are just some of the ways in
which studying math will help you.
You will know how much money you
are spending.
You will know if the cashier has given
you the right amount of change.
You will know how to use
measurements to build things.
Your science classes will be easier and
more interesting.

5.6

5.8

There are four steps in the problem

solving process.
Step 1: understand the problem. Do
not try to solve a problem before you
understand what the problem is asking.
Read the problem carefully and decide
what you know and what you are
trying to find.
Step 2: make a plan. When you
understand the problem, the next step
is to make a plan for solving it.
Problems are solved in different ways.
Will it help you to draw a picture or
diagram? Is there so much data that
you need to make a table or list?
Step 3: solve the problem.

10

3.6

Average reading level:

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 5
Reflection:
Math Smarts! Problem Solving and Word
Problem Smarts!
After completing the Flesch-Kincaid readability analysis I agree with the average grade
level calculated. The terminology of this book and the definitions of the curriculum
vocabulary is on grade point for 5th grade. I would use this book to help teach word
problems and real world problems. The vocabulary in this book would be suitable for a
6th grade classroom.

Readability Analysis
Word Problems Made Easy
100 word sample
Sentences Flesch-Kincaid grade level
Math is all around, and an important
part of your life. You use math when
you are playing games, cooking food,
spending money, telling time, reading
music, or doing any other activity that
uses numbers. Even finding a
television station uses math!
Word problems are everywhere. Word
problems use every kind of math.
They help you use math to figure out
things in the real world. You probably
already know how to do the math; now
you just need to know how to use it.
Using this book. This book can be
used to learn or to review how to solve
word problems.

4.6

!
Word problems can be solved by
following four easy steps. Read the
problem. Read carefully. What do you
know? What do you need to find?
Make a plan. It is up to you to find the
best way to solve the problem. Some
problems will give you a plan, like
making a table, writing an equation, or
drawing a graph.
Solve the problem. It is time to do the
math. If you find that your plan is not
working, make a new plan.
Check your answer. Yay! You are
finished, right? Wrong! Always check
your answer. Make sure you have
answered the question right.

17

1.3

Dont give up! The first time you try

to solve a word problem, it might not
work. Keep trying! Look over your
work and see if you made a silly
mistake, like using the wrong numbers.
If you get stuck, try a different plan.
Be positive! You learn by making
mistakes. If you already know all the
answers, there is nothing to learn.
Remember, it feels great when you
finally get the solution!
Use your past! Some of the problems
look like ones youve seen before. Use
what you remember from other
problems to solve new ones.
Practice! The more you do anything,
the better you become at it.

14

3.0

Average reading level:

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 3.0
Reflection:
Word Problems Made Easy
After completing the Flesch-Kincaid readability analysis I agree with the average grade
level calculated. The vocabulary in this book was much easier than some of the others I
analyzed. This book, in terms of a 6th grade math class, would fit in well for students
with a lower reading fluency. It is easy to read and easy to comprehend. It is not
overloaded with technical terms and higher-level vocabulary. This book would serve well
in a middle school math class.