Four Great Reads for Elementary Mathematics

​If you and/or your teammates are looking for some great resources for math instruction to do a book study or read independently, I have four great recommendations for you;

• Number Talks; Whole Number Computation  by Sherry Parrish-Math Solutions (2014)
• Making Number Talks Matter; Developing Mathematical Practices and Deepening Understanding- Grades 4-10 by Cathy Humphreys & Ruth Parker-Stenhouse Publishers (2015)
• Mathematical Mindsets; Unleashing Students’ Potential Through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching by Jo Boaler-Jossey-Bass (2016)
• Principles to Action; Ensuring Mathematical Success For All by National Council of Teachers of Mathematics(2014)

[Number Talks; Whole Number Computation]

Many of you may have heard the buzz around Number Talks, and several others in the Rochester Public schools are currently participating in on-going professional development sessions at various elementary sites to delve deeper into this pedagogical mathematics practice. For those who may be unfamiliar, Number Talks are a short (5-15 minute) daily routine that that provides students with meaningful ongoing practice with computation. Research is telling us that Number Talks have the potential to improve students’ views of mathematics, teach them number sense, help them develop mental math skills and engage them in creative, open mathematics.

Number Talks; Whole Number Computation is multimedia resource that supports teachers in understanding:

• What a classroom number talk is;
• How to follow students’ thinking and pose the right questions to build understanding;
• How to prepare for and design purposeful number talks; and
• How to develop grade-level-specific strategies for the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

You can listen to teacher testimonials who are using Number Talks.

[Making Number Talks Matter]

Ruth Parker, author and CEO of Mathematics Education Collaborative states, “ The practice of number talks is one of the most powerful vehicles I know for helping students learn to reason with numbers and make mathematically convincing arguments, for building a solid foundation for algebraic reasoning, and for teaching mathematics as a sense-making process. If all teachers make this shift in their practice, it would represent a profound advancement in mathematics education.”

In this book authors Cathy Humphreys & Ruth Parker outline in great detail;

• What Number Talks are and why they are so important
• The Guiding Principles for enacting Number Talks in the classroom
• How to develop a classroom environment that supports Number Talks
• The four or five most efficient strategies for each mathematical operation; and
• How to manage bumps in the road

[Mathematical Mindsets]

In her ground-breaking book Mathematical Mindsets; Unleashing Students’ Potential through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching, Jo Boaler takes proven research and turns it into practical activities and advice for teaching mathematics. ​Reviewers praise Boalers’ ability to translate Carol Dweck's concept of 'mindset' into math teaching and parenting strategies, showing how students can go from self-doubt to strong self-confidence, which is so important to math learning. 

In this book Boaler;

• Explains how the brain processes mathematics learning
• Reveals how to turn mistakes and struggles into valuable learning experiences
• Provides examples of rich mathematical activities to replace rote learning
• Explains ways to give students a positive math mindset
• Gives examples of how assessment and grading policies need to change to support real understanding

In my opinion, this is one of the most valuable educational books I have ever read!

[Principles to Actions]

This book offers specific actions that teachers and stake holders need to take to realize our shared goal of ensuring mathematical success for all. This book represents a significant step in articulating a unified vision of what is needed to realize the potential of educating all students-under any standards or in any educational setting. In my opinion Principals to Action from NCTM offers many practical insights into how to continue improving mathematics education.

Principles to Action; Ensuring Mathematical Success for All is a compilation of over thirty years of research in the area of mathematics instruction.  In the Preface the authors disclose that this book will contain;

•  The conditions, structures, and policies that must exist for all students to learn.
•  It addresses the essential elements of teaching and learning
  •  access and equity,
  •  curriculum, tools
  •  technology,
  •  assessment, and
  •  Professionalism. 

If you are interested in a great venue for reading and discussing professional literature, look for the winter version of “Pages on the Patio” coming soon.  This off-campus professional development allows teachers of all grade levels the opportunity to read individually selected professional literature in a casual & comfortable environment and then have the chance to have open dialog with colleagues about the various text selections. Look for course offering for CEU’s in PDExpress coming in January.

This post brought to you by Julie Ace, Elementary Implementation Associate