Individual Differences

Mr. Reed has just given his 18 junior-high school math students their homework assignment of 20 examples of subtraction of mixed fractions.  Example #1 - 5⅝ - 2⅛ (Express your answer in its lowest terms.)*

He is now on the field and has assumed his coaching role.  Coach Reed is meeting with his assistant coach, Ernie Roberts, to check out some possible changes of player positions before their next game.

Let’s listen in: Coach Reed: Let’s go through all of our players and see where we are.

Ernie: Okay.

Coach: How about Lynn at first base?

Ernie: Well, he’s our tallest player - so he’s a good target. And he’s left-handed - a big advantage for throws to the other bases - especially a 3-6-3 double play. (First base to shortstop back to first base.)

Coach: How about Randy?

Ernie: He is really fast - he helps in left-center and right-right center. Good arm.

Coach: Yeah, and he’s a good model for our new outfielders. How are we at short and second base? I think Geno and Johnny are pretty good at working together.

Ernie: Yeah, they are pretty quick. Johnny doesn’t have a strong arm but he has a quick release. He covers a lot of territory. We’re pretty solid there.

Coach: How about Joe, our catcher?

Ernie: He’s a good all-around catcher and he is really a good leader on the field. He did a great job with Rob who was a little wild last game. Rob needs to work on his control.

Coach: I’ll leave that to you. I would like to use Mario as our starting pitcher in our next game. He looks good in practice and he did well the times we’ve used him in relief.

This goes on through the rest of the starters and the game changers/reserves.

Commentary

Individual differences of the students in the classroom has typically been a problem. 

Individual differences on the ball field, on the football field, on the soccer pitch, in the gym, on the balance beam, etc., is welcomed; even celebrated. We want the athletes on our teams to have different abilities. We want 5’ 2” gymnasts and 6’ 4” basketball centers in our women’s sports. Our soccer coaches like having left-footed players at their left wing positions.  Compare the marathon runners with the shot putters in the field events.

*  The correct answer for example #1 in its lowest terms is 3½.