MAKING ALGEBRA CHILD?S PLAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2009

CONTACT:

Dr. Henry Borenson, Hands-On Equations, 800-993-6284; Dr. Jennifer Robinson, Executive Director, Center of Pedagogy, Montclair State University, 973-655-4226; Ed Boakye, Math Trainer, East Orange S.D., 973-266-5733.

WHAT: Dr. Henry Borenson, inventor of Hands-On Equations, will be presenting a Making Algebra Child?s Play workshop for middle school teachers of the East Orange School District in New Jersey, as well as for middle school teachers of several private schools in the area.

WHEN: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, 2009

WHERE: Residence Inn by Marriott, 107 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, New Jersey

WHY COVER THIS STORY: Dr. Borenson?s teaching system (he received a US patent for it) enables students from grades 4 to 8 to quickly understand and solve algebraic linear equations such as       4x +2=3x+9. With some districts in the country having a 91% failure rate in algebra, it is incumbent that new teaching methods which can produce dramatic results be shared with the general public, just as is done with medical treatments or foods that produce dramatic results.

PRIOR RESEARCH: In Broward County, Fla, 80% of the 4th graders who participated in a study could solve an equation such as 4x+2=3x+9 within 7 lessons. Research conducted with 2500 students yielded similar results for grades 5 - 8.

HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK: By using pawns and numbered cubes, along with physical actions, students are able to demystify the meaning of algebraic equations and quickly learn to solve equations which are a basis for further work in algebra. It is the use of the visual and kinesthetic senses that lead to the high level of success experienced by students who use Hands-On Equations.

OF SPECIAL INTEREST to the press will be the student demonstration to be conducted by Dr. Borenson from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. These will be "low-achieving" 6th graders who have had no prior experience with the program.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Funding for the Making Algebra Child's Play workshop was made possible by federal funds through an Improving Teacher Quality Partnership grant, administered by the New Jersey Department of Education. The partnership is between the East Orange School District and Montclair State University, serves 4 public schools and 4 non-public middle schools.

Participating public schools:

Cicely Tyson School, Laura Trimmings, Principal,

John L. Costley Middle School, Amalia Trono, Principal

Patrick F. Healy Middle School, Dr. Robert Morgan, Principal

Sojourner Truth Middle School, Vincent Stallings, Principal*

Participating non-public schools

The Clark School, Mada Orrell, Principal

JAMAS Children?s University, Mrs. Williams, Principal

Madrasatu Ahlis Sunnah, Dr. Khadijah Pryce, Principal

St. Josephs Elementary School, Marion Alexander, Principal