by Robin Kirkham

Introduction

The teaching of Algebra I includes working with polynomials and the fine art of factoring. Yes this is an art. The students do not readily grasp this fine art and it therefore, lends itself to some creative methods to teaching factoring. It is my belief that some of the difficulty is that the students do not actually see the numbers and there the relationships between the numbers.

How can factoring be made easier? How can the students relate or at least see some of the relationships between the numbers. There are many different methods used but I want to introduce yet one more method that I believe can let the student feel the relationships.

Let us review some lesson plans.

Lesson Plans

I: Factoring

II: Introduction of the World of Diamonds

III: Other Methods to Factor Polynomials

IV: An Example of Factoring using Diamond Math