Putting Essential Understanding of Geometry and Measurement Into Practice, in Prekindergarten-Grade 2


Book Description

Do your students recognize a square if the base is oriented horizontally but call it a "diamond" if it is turned 45 degrees? Do they claim that a shape is a triangle because it "looks like" one? Do they say that one object is "bigger" than another without attending more precisely to the attribute they are comparing? What tasks can you offer--what questions can you ask--to determine what they know or don't know--and move them forward in their thinking? This book focuses on the specialized pedagogical content knowledge that you need to teach geometry and measurement effectively in prekindergarten to grade 2. The authors demonstrate how to use this multifaceted knowledge to address the big ideas and essential understandings that students must develop for success with these concepts--not only in their current work, but also in higher-level mathematics and a myriad of real-world contexts. Explore rich, research-based strategies and tasks that show how students are reasoning about and making sense of fractions. Use the opportunities that these and similar tasks provide to build on their understanding while identifying and correcting misunderstandings that may be keeping them from taking the next steps in learning. You have essential understanding. It's time to put it into practice in your teaching. The Putting Essential Understanding into Practice Series moves NCTM's Essential Understanding Series into the classroom. The new series details and explores best practices for teaching the essential ideas that students must grasp about fundamental topics in mathematics--topics that are challenging to learn and teach but are critical to the development of mathematical understanding. Classroom vignettes and samples of student work bring each topic to life, and questions for reader reflection open it up for hands-on exploration. Each volume underscores connections with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics while highlighting the knowledge of learners, curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessment that pedagogical content knowledge entails. Resources and tasks are available at More4U. Maximize the potential of student-centered learning and teaching by putting essential understanding into practice.




Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math


Book Description

Your guide to grow and learn as a math teacher! Let’s face it, teaching elementary math can be hard. So much about how we teach math today may look and feel different from how we learned it. Today, we recognize placing the student at the center of their learning increases engagement, motivation, and academic achievement soars. Teaching math in a student-centered way changes the role of the teacher from one who traditionally “delivers knowledge” to one who fosters thinking. Most importantly, we must ensure our practice gives each and every student the opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve at high levels, while providing opportunities to develop their agency and authority in the classroom which results in a positive math identity. Whether you are a brand new teacher or a veteran, if you find teaching math to be quite the challenge, this is the guide you want by your side. Designed for just-in-time learning and support, this practical resource gives you brief, actionable answers to your most pressing questions about teaching elementary math. Written by four experienced math educators representing diverse experiences, these authors offer the practical advice they wish they received years ago, from lessons they′ve learned over decades of practice, research, coaching, and through collaborating with teams, teachers and colleagues—especially new teachers—every day. Questions and answers are organized into five areas of effort that will help you most thrive in your elementary math classroom: 1. How do I build a positive math community? 2. How do I structure, organize, and manage my math class? 3. How do I engage my students in math? 4. How do I help my students talk about math? 5. How do I know what my students know and move them forward? Woven throughout, you′ll find helpful sidebar notes on fostering identity and agency; access and equity; teaching in different settings; and invaluable resources for deeper learning. The final question—Where do I go from here?— offers guidance for growing your practice over time. Strive to become the best math educator you can be; your students are counting on it! What will be your first step on the journey?




Developing Essential Understanding of Number and Numeration for Teaching Mathematics in Prekindergarten--grade 2


Book Description

How do composing and decomposing numbers connect with the properties of addition? Focus on the ideas that you need to thoroughly understand in order to teach with confidence. The mathematical content of this book focuses on essential knowledge for teachers about numbers and number systems. It is organised around one big idea and supported by smaller, more specific, interconnected ideas (essential understandings). Gaining this understanding is essential because numbers and numeration are building blocks for other mathematical concepts and for thinking quantitatively about the real-world. Essential Understanding series topics include: Number and Numeration for Grades Pre-K-2 Addition and Subtraction for Grades Pre-K-2 Geometry for Grades Pre-K-2 Reasoning and Proof for Grades Pre-K-8 Multiplication and Division for Grades 3-5 Rational Numbers for Grades 3-5 Algebraic Ideas and Readiness for Grades 3-5 Geometric Shapes and Solids for Grades 3-5 Ratio, Proportion and Proportionality for Grades 6-8 Expressions and Equations for Grades 6-8 Measurement for Grades 6-8 Data Analysis and Statistics for Grades 6-8 Function for Grades 9-12 Geometric Relationships for Grades 9-12 Reasoning and Proof for Grades 9-12 Statistics for Grades 9-12




Exploring Mathematics Through Play in the Early Childhood Classroom


Book Description

This practical book provides pre- and inservice teachers with an understanding of how math can be learned through play. The author helps teachers to recognize the mathematical learning that occurs during play, to develop strategies for mathematizing that play, and to design formal lessons that make connections between mathematics and play. Common Core State Standards are addressed thorughout the text to demonstrate the ways in which play is critical to standards-based mathematics teaching, and to help teachers become more familiar with these standards. Classroom examples illustrate that, unlike most formal tasks, play offers children opportunities to solve nonroutine problems and to demonstrate a variety of mathematical ways of thinking, such as perseverence and attention to precision. This book will help put play back into the early childhood classrooms where it belongs. This book: makes explicit connections to play and the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics; offers many examples of free play activities in which mathematics can be highlighted, as well as formal lessons that are inspired by play; and provides strategies for making assessments more playful, helping teachers meet increasing demands for assessment data while also reducing child stress.




Grade 2 Geometry and Measurement


Book Description

Geometry & Measurement Workbooks introduce important foundational math concepts gradually, which allows children to feel confident and eager to learn more. Our fun and colorful activities inspire a love of math.




Putting Essential Understanding of Geometry Into Practice in Grades 6-8


Book Description

Learn about the specialized pedagogical content knowledge you need to teach geometry effectively in grades 6-8. The authors demonstrate how to use this multifaceted knowledge to address the big ideas and essential understandings that students must develop for success with geometry-not only in their current work, but also in higher-level mathematics and a myriad of real-world contexts.







Developing Essential Understanding of Geometry for Teaching Mathematics in Grades 9-12


Book Description

Why does it matter whether we state definitions carefully when we all know what particular geometric figures look like? What does it mean to say that a reflection is a transformation—a function? How does the study of transformations and matrices in high school connect with later work with vector spaces in linear algebra? How much do you know… and how much do you need to know? Helping your students develop a robust understanding of geometry requires that you understand this mathematics deeply. But what does that mean? This book focuses on essential knowledge for teachers about geometry. It is organised around four big ideas, supported by multiple smaller, interconnected ideas—essential understandings. Taking you beyond a simple introduction to geometry, the book will broaden and deepen your mathematical understanding of one of the most challenging topics for students—and teachers. It will help you engage your students, anticipate their perplexities, avoid pitfalls, and dispel misconceptions. You will also learn to develop appropriate tasks, techniques, and tools for assessing students’ understanding of the topic. Focus on the ideas that you need to understand thoroughly to teach confidently. Move beyond the mathematics you expect your students to learn. Students who fail to get a solid grounding in pivotal concepts struggle in subsequent work in mathematics and related disciplines. By bringing a deeper understanding to your teaching, you can help students who don’t get it the first time by presenting the mathematics in multiple ways. The Essential Understanding Series addresses topics in school mathematics that are critical to the mathematical development of students but are often difficult to teach. Each book in the series gives an overview of the topic, highlights the differences between what teachers and students need to know, examines the big ideas and related essential understandings, reconsiders the ideas presented in light of connections with other mathematical ideas, and includes questions for readers’ reflection.




Strengths-Based Teaching and Learning in Mathematics


Book Description

"This book is a game changer! Strengths-Based Teaching and Learning in Mathematics: 5 Teaching Turnarounds for Grades K- 6 goes beyond simply providing information by sharing a pathway for changing practice. . . Focusing on our students’ strengths should be routine and can be lost in the day-to-day teaching demands. A teacher using these approaches can change the trajectory of students’ lives forever. All teachers need this resource! Connie S. Schrock Emporia State University National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics President, 2017-2019 NEW COVID RESOURCES ADDED: A Parent’s Toolkit to Strengths-Based Learning in Math is now available on the book’s companion website to support families engaged in math learning at home. This toolkit provides a variety of home-based activities and games for families to engage in together. Your game plan for unlocking mathematics by focusing on students’ strengths. We often evaluate student thinking and their work from a deficit point of view, particularly in mathematics, where many teachers have been taught that their role is to diagnose and eradicate students’ misconceptions. But what if instead of focusing on what students don’t know or haven’t mastered, we identify their mathematical strengths and build next instructional steps on students’ points of power? Beth McCord Kobett and Karen S. Karp answer this question and others by highlighting five key teaching turnarounds for improving students’ mathematics learning: identify teaching strengths, discover and leverage students’ strengths, design instruction from a strengths-based perspective, help students identify their points of power, and promote strengths in the school community and at home. Each chapter provides opportunities to stop and consider current practice, reflect, and transfer practice while also sharing · Downloadable resources, activities, and tools · Examples of student work within Grades K–6 · Real teachers’ notes and reflections for discussion It’s time to turn around our approach to mathematics instruction, end deficit thinking, and nurture each student’s mathematical strengths by emphasizing what makes them each unique and powerful.




Putting Essential Understanding of Ratios and Proportions Into Practice in Grades 6-8


Book Description

Focuses on the specialized pedagogical content knowledge that you need to teach ratios and proportions effectively in grades 6-8. The authors demonstrate how to use this multifaceted knowledge to address the big ideas and essential understandings that students must develop for success with ratios and proportions.