Prelude to Algebra
“making algebra make sense”
Testimonials from the Recent INAT Institute
“This way of teaching Pre-Algebra concepts is the most logical and reasonable way I have ever seen.”
Leslie Humberd, 8th grade Pre-algebra teacher
Lake Forest Middle School, Cleveland, TN
“The material is presented in a way that just makes sense. I can easily see what I’ve learned here as a teacher is going to translate into improvements in test scores for my students.”
Steven Brady, 6th & 7th grade Math
Rogers Creek Elementary, McMinn County, TN
“The INAT Institute gave us the tools and knowledge to teach students not only how to do the math skills, but the underlying knowledge about how it works and how to apply this knowledge.”
Kevin Choat, 9th grade Pre-algebra
Meigs High School, Meigs County, TN
“I feel like I have opened a box full of secrets that I am free to share.”
Valerie Hunt, 7th & 8th grade math
Bowman Hills SDA School, Cleveland, TN
“Today’s high school students tend to rely on rote memorization rather than understanding to be successful in math class. This strategy has proven to be woefully inadequate. The INAT Institute empowers teachers with concepts necessary to put understanding back into the math classroom and real-life situations.”
Scott K. Silvers, 9th grade Foundations Math (and Physics) teacher
Polk County High School, Benton, TN
“This training has been wonderful. I can’t wait to see the ‘light bulbs’ come on for my students as they finally understand math.”
Will Campbell, 8th grade Pre-algebra
Ocoee Middle School, Cleveland, TN
“Eye-opening experience. Fantastic approach to preparing students for Algebra.”
Jim Peck, 9th grade Foundations Math
Bradley Central High School, Cleveland, TN
“The basic skills and strategies presented in this Institute will help all students succeed in the classroom. These strategies are the ‘missing link’ in today’s mathematics instruction.”
Heidi Ford, 7th and 8th grade math
Englewood School, McMinn County, TN
“I thought it would be another boring staff development activity and to my surprise it has been very beneficial. I will return to my classroom excited about a new program with a different approach to Algebra.”
J. Sue Cheatham, 8th grade Pre-algebra teacher
Copper Basin High School, Copperhill, TN
“Today’s high school students tend to rely on rote memorization rather than understanding to be successful in math class. This strategy has proven to be woefully inadequate. The INAT Institute empowers teachers with concepts necessary to put understanding back into the math classroom and real-life situations.”
Scott K. Silvers, 9th grade Foundations Math (and Physics) teacher
Polk County High School, Benton, TN
“This institute should be a requirement for all math teachers (6-12).”
Hailee Smith, 8th grade Math teacher
Niota Elementary School, Niota, TN
“Dr. Lay is not only a brilliant mathematician, but also an extremely accomplished instructor. I have learned more math in two weeks than I had learned in the previous fifty years!”
Mike Lamb, 9th grade Foundations teacher
Copper Basin High School, Copperhill, TN
“I have been impressed with the Lee [University] professionals that have conducted this conference. I have been surprised by how much I have learned and how much I enjoyed it. I thought it would be another boring staff development activity and to my surprise it has been very beneficial. I will return to my classroom excited about a new program with a different approach to Algebra.”
J. Sue Cheatham, 8th grade Pre-algebra teacher
Copper Basin High School, Copperhill, TN
“This [Prelude approach] is (very)3 exciting.”
Bill Rowland, 7th and 8th grade Pre-algebra teacher
Chilhowee Middle School, Benton, TN
“INAT has been a great experience for me. The instructors were top notch and I feel that I’ve gained knowledge and good ideas to take back to the classroom. I’ve enjoyed sharing with other middle school teachers. I’m very glad that I had the opportunity to attend!”
Judy Gilliam, 8th grade Pre-algebra teacher
Ocoee Middle School, Cleveland, TN
Early Testimonials (1962-65)
“It has been extremely rewarding to have been enrolled in your course [at Cal State Fullerton] this past semester. I can honestly state that more useful ideas for the secondary teacher of mathematics were available from this one [course] than were received from all three NSF mathematics institutes in which I have participated.” (January, 1965)
Del Weber, Fullerton, CA
To “Big Daddy”
Dr. L. Clark Lay is the gentleman’s name,
A well-known figure and quite a brain.
We were a very fortunate group
To have him—“Big Daddy”—give us the scoop.
We studied natural numbers and zero.
We hung on each word that was said by our hero.
The Associative, Commutative, Distributive Laws, too,
All through our minds and bodies flew.
Then composites and primes and powers—these three,
And the L.C.M. and the G.C.D.
The largest prime and the square root of two;
One is irrational and the other you can’t do.
We’ve learned so much in so short a time
That our heads are whirling on the number line.
The time’s been short—the knowledge great,
So we’ll make a toast to your future fate.
To you, dear Dr. L. Clark Lay,
Who has helped our future—and with little pay,
We wish the very best for you,
May your book be published and used much too.
May every child in the U.S.A.
Learn math as taught by L. Clark Lay.
--written by Leola Proctor and Anne Scott
UCLA summer conference, 1964
“Thank you for all that you gave us during the Math Conference at UCLA. On my way home I was thinking how unusual it is that someone who graduated from the 8th grade at the age of 10 would be interested in the teaching of children—especially the slow learner. May God bless your efforts in this direction.” (July, 1962)
Sister Mary Paul Buser, C.S.F., Marymount College, Salina, KA