Please, please, please, please do not, when doing examples on the board, use the equal sign (=) incorrectly. For instance:
Similarly, when simplifying fractions:
3 ⅛ + 1 ⅜ = 4 4/8 = ½
Is also wrong.
The “=” means “is equal to.” Please keep that in mind.
It will make my work a lot easier. Believe it or not, but your students copy your wrong work and do math that is wrong. Furthermore, they misunderstand the vital importance of setting everything on either side of the “=” equal. My guess is that this is why they find algebra so hard. And so, instead of grading homework that is blatantly wrong (that is part of my job at an after school tutoring center), I can whiz through so many more math worksheets in a minute that I might actually get some homework done.
Thank you if you’re reading this, elementary school teachers. And sorry, Elementary School Teacher, if you are reading this and use the “=” correctly. This was not aimed at you, but at all the rest who don’t.