Teaching Mathematics in Elementary and Middle School: Developing Mathematical Thinking

For courses in undergraduate Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Education

With an emphasis on inquiry and process, Teaching Mathematics in Elementary and Middle School embraces active mathematics instruction and the development of mathematical thinking through problem solving.  The text challenges future teachers to prepare their K-8 students for a world that requires a higher level of mathematical literacy and enables them to compete in a global society. Teachers will develop their own mathematical abilities allowing them to help students discover a rich combination of thinking processes and problem-solving strategies, raising the learning expectations for all.

With an emphasis on inquiry and process, Teaching Mathematics in Elementary and Middle School embraces active mathematics instruction and the development of mathematical thinking through problem solving.  The text challenges future teachers to prepare their K-8 students for a world that requires a higher level of mathematical literacy and enables them to compete in a global society.Teachers will develop their own mathematical abilities, allowing them to help students discover a rich combination of thinking processes and problem-solving strategies, raising the learning expectations for all.

Unique text features

• TIE–Thought, Investigation and Exploration features ask pre-service teachers to develop their own thinking and learning abilities, preparing them to better challenge their students.
• Mathematics in the Real World, Idea Files, and Teacher Profiles model best practices and supply readers with concrete teaching tools and strategies.
• Mathematical Thinking, Mathematical Games and Mathematics and Technology features detail activities to engage and develop students’ mathematical thinking. Accompanying student artifacts illustrate the progression of students’ conceptual understanding.
• [CD logo replaces bullet] Math Activities CD-ROM provides an outstanding text component containing more than 100 activities that use a three-step process–explore, invent, discover–to foster the development of mathematical thinking through guided inquiry.  Aligned with the NCTM standards, each activity is integrated within the text and designed to help develop students’ conceptual understanding of mathematics. 
• Mathematics in Literature offers thoroughly developed ideas for using children’s literature to create meaningful contexts for mathematics learning. An extensive bibliography that can be used for this purpose appears on the CD-Rom.

“I think the text is an excellent resource for elementary and middle school methods courses.  In particular, I like how the textbook handles the ‘bigger issues’ such as geometric reasoning rather than just ‘geometry.’  I also like the excellent foundation in educational research that the textbook provides, as well as some very careful attention and consistent referencing to the NCTM standards and principles.  The incorporation of classroom vignettes, teacher illustrations, and samples of student work also all add to the excellent grounding of the text in real world classroom work.”

Dr. Neal Grandgenett, University of Nebraska at Omaha