Slope-Intercept, Face, Freddy Fish and Phone Numbers

Math Stuff

So I got an email from David. "im having problems with SOLVING A SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS. the explanation didn't make sense, as of now. :-)"

We covered this for the first time last weekend, and I knew it would take more than once. I told him to do other review exercises in his assignment, and he did. So we lined up the equations, reminded him of LCDs and discussed the signs - after all the goal is to get to zero - and off we went. I expect it won't be the last time ...

We are concurrently (ALEKS is like this) working on graphing equations, x- and y-intercepts; and of course, using the SLOPE-INTERCEPT standard linear equation form: y = mx + b. It took quite a while for David to parse this out so that he understands that "m" is the slope - not "mx + b" or "mx." So I finally gave him what seems to be working as an audio-visual memory tool.

If you are familiar with Children's TV, you may be aware of a character called, "Face." Face morphs shape and color to teach elementary concepts of shape and color. He often starts, "Hi There; Face Here." Many phrases are alliterative and exaggerated, with his voice going up/down and phrases semi-sung.

"R-r-r-ise!" I said, pointing my arm up and using a high sing-song voice and holding the vowel a couple of seconds; then thrusting the arm out in front, lowering the tone, and saying, "R-r-r-un." (This was later followed by "B-z-z-z-z-z." (for "b") It seemed to r-r-r-esonate with him. :-)

Freddy Fish and Phone Numbers

Mikey loves a children's computer game called "Freddy Fish." There are several iterations of the game; Freddy Fish IV lives at our house. In the game, there is a part where Freddy advises the game player to memorize a 3-digit number, which becomes the "combination" to unlock a safe later in the game. So on the way home Mikey started reciting his phone number and declared it was the combination! One never knows where his mind will go, but go it certainly does.