Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math: Five to Thrive [series]

by Frederick L. Dillon, Ayanna D. Perry, Andrea Negrete Cheng, Jennifer Outzs

Overview

Let’s face it, teaching secondary math can be hard. So much about how we teach math today may look and feel different from how we learned it. 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 secondary 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 secondary math classroom:

• How do I build a positive math community?
• How do I structure, organize, and manage my math class?
• How do I engage my students in math?
• How do I help my students talk about math?
• 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?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781071870792
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	04/08/2022
Series:	Corwin Mathematics Series
Pages:	184
Sales rank:	500,058
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Frederick L. Dillon is an author and national mathematics curriculum and professional learning consultant based near Cleveland, Ohio. He is a retired teacher with 35 years of classroom experience, having taught grades 7 through college. Fred is a frequent speaker at national, state, and local conferences and institutes. He is active at the local, state, and national level in professional organizations, including serving on the board of directors for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Fred was a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching and the Christopherson-Fawcett Award from OCTM for Lifetime Contributions to Mathematics Education.

Ayanna Perry, Ph D, is an Associate Director for the Teaching Fellows Program at the Knowles Teacher Initiative. She has been working in education for over 15 years. She taught high school math courses, as well as college level math education courses. In addition to her work as a teacher, she’s also been working as a teacher mentor and coach for high school science and math teachers. She’s published a number of blogs on issues of equity on the Knowles Teacher Initiative website and articles on technology use in math and on equity in math classes in The Mathematics Teacher- including 7 Features of equitable classroom spaces from her dissertation. She also co-authored Five to Thrive: Answers to Your Biggest Questions about Teaching Secondary Math. She is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Council for Supervisors of Mathematics, the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, the Benjamin Banneker Association, the Association of Maryland Mathematics Teacher Educators, and TODOS Mathematics for All.

Andrea Negrete Cheng is a 9-12 math teacher in Union City, California. She has also taught in Oakland at a high school for recently arrived immigrants. Andrea’s passion for teaching is deeply rooted in her family experience and community. Her parents emigrated from Mexico and “served as strong, hard-working role models making [her] appreciate, value, and pursue education to [her] fullest capacity.” Andrea earned a Bachelor’s in mathematics, teaching credential and Master’s in math education from the University of California, Berkeley. She has presented at Teachers for Social Justice Conference on “Preparing students for college-ready mathematics through dual-enrollment.”

Jennifer Outzs has taught for 32 years as a middle school math teacher in both private and public schools in Ohio and Florida. Jennifer is currently serving on the Board of Directors for NCTM and was previously on staff at the PCMI (Park City Mathematics Institute) Teacher Leadership Program. She has worked as a facilitator for NCTM’s Effective Teaching with Principles to Actions Institutes, served on program committees for NCTM annual and regional conferences, worked as a mathematics review panelist for College Board, and has presented at local, state, and national conferences.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

About the Authors xiii

Introduction 1

1 How Do I Build a Math Community? 10

What Is Equity in Mathematics? 12

How Do I Build and Sustain a Positive Mathematical Community in My Classroom? 15

What Norms Should I Have in My Classroom? 18

How Can My Words and Actions Focus on Students' Strengths? 21

How Do I Learn About My Students' Math Identities? 24

How Do I Support Student Agency in My Classroom? 27

How Can I Make Math Class More Student-Centered and Culturally Relevant? 29

How Do I Establish Two-Way Communication With Caregivers? 32

2 How Do I Structure, Organize, and Manage My Math Class? 36

What Do I Do at the Start of the School Year? 38

What Are the Process Standards, and How Do I Use Them? 41

What Is a Learning Goal, and How Do I Write One? 45

How Do I Plan a Unit? 48

What Makes a Good Lesson Plan? 51

What Are Mathematical Teaching Routines, and How Do I Use Them? 55

What Are the Ways in Which I Can Group Students? 57

How Should My Classroom Be Organized to Maximize Student Learning? 60

What Is the Role of Practice and Homework? 63

3 How Do I Engage My Students in Math? 66

How Do I Select a Worthwhile Task? 68

How Do I Teach Problem Solving? 72

How Do I Support My Students in Becoming Critical Thinkers? 76

How Do I Promote and Support Productive Struggle? 81

How Do I Use Technology? 83

How Do I Provide Differentiation for Students on the Continuum of Prior Knowledge? 87

How Do I Support Students With Different Learning Preferences and Needs? 90

How Do I Support Emergent Multilinguals? 93

How Do I Help Cultivate a Sense of Wonder, Joy, and Beauty of Mathematics? 96

4 How Do I Help My Students Talk about Math and Share their Mathematical Thinking? 100

How Do I Anticipate What Students Will Do? 102

How Do I Prepare for Classroom Discourse? 105

How Do I Plan the Questions I Will Ask? 109

How Do I Facilitate Group Work? 112

How Do I Use Multiple Representations to Support Understanding? 115

How Do I Use Manipulatives in My Class? 119

What Is the Role of Procedural Fluency in My Classroom? 123

5 How Do I Know What My Students Know, and How Can I Use that Information to Plan and Move Forward? 126

How Can I Use Information From Formative and Summative Assessments? 128

How Do I Support My Students With Feedback? 131

How Do I Analyze Classroom Data? 136

What Is the Role of Notes? 139

6 Where Do I Go from Here? 142

What Activities Can I Pursue to Learn and Grow? 144

How Can I Reflect on My Teaching? 148

What Resources Should I Use to Learn and Grow? 152

References 158

Index 161

Editorial Reviews

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math is an invaluable distillation of the most current, research-based best practices with practical strategies for implementing them. Written by classroom teachers, for classroom teachers, this book belongs on the shelf of every secondary math teacher.

Temecula, CA - Jason Slowbe

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math employs a strengths-based approach to promote high-quality secondary mathematics teaching. The authors draw from a wealth of experiences to offer practitioners activities and resources to engage students in the mathematics teaching and learning dynamic. This book is an invaluable resource for advancing accessible approaches to bolster student agency in mathematics classrooms.

Carrollton, GA - Christopher C. Jett

The authors of Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math are to be commended for writing this important book. How I wish I would have had such a resource when I began my career as a high school mathematics teacher. This book covers the why and the how of creating equitable mathematics classrooms from the very beginning. I also appreciate the strong focus on agency and identity. This book is a must-have for new secondary mathematics teachers. Experienced teachers will also find a wealth of resources for improving mathematics instruction.

Los Angeles, CA - Kyndall Brown

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math is a must for every teacher of mathematics! This is a resource filled with practical guidance, accessible resources, and opportunities to reflect on your teaching journey. Whether you are just starting your journey or far into that journey, keep this book with you throughout and enjoy the journey!

Waco, TX - Trena L. Wilkerson

Teaching is complex! This book helps break that complexity into manageable approaches. As someone who has been leading professional development for over 20 years, this book helped me consider new and important ways to think about common questions and dilemmas teachers encounter every day. If your focus is on developing a more equitable classroom then this book is for you!

Moorestown, NJ - Jen Mossgrove

I highly recommend Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math for current teachers, preservice teachers, instructional leaders and administrators as a guide to embodying foundational truths about mathematics, including that every student is capable of developing deep mathematical understanding and contributing to the knowledge of the classroom community. Readers will be drawn to the insightful tips, concrete content examples, and helpful tables, which illuminate strategies and beliefs to thrive. Add this book to your shelf today!

Winter Park, FL - Sarah Bush

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math is a musthave for every new and early career teacher and a great resource for those who are experienced. The wealth of knowledge and strategies shared here make this an invaluable resource and will positively impact student learning. I wish I had this when I started teaching middle school 25+ years ago!

Mattawan, MI - Kevin Dykema

The most effective secondary mathematics teachers are likely to have a ragged, well-loved copy of Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math on their desks. This book synthesizes decades of research that supports strong student learning outcomes and distills it into practical, easy-to-implement recommendations for teachers. New and experienced teachers alike will find new and important ideas that can be used immediately to strengthen their practice and increase engagement with their mathematics learners.

Zionsville, IN - Michael D. Steele

This book is incredibly helpful to understand key ideas and practices for new international teachers. The book gives a very efficient and easy-to understand overview of critical questions a teacher can have while teaching high school mathematics. As a mathematics educator, I would definitely recommend this book to my senior mathematics teachers, reading and reflecting on the questions in the book will support their readiness and transition into being a teacher.

Riverside, CA - Zuhal Yilmaz

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math is a fabulous tour de force of the big ideas in teaching mathematics that will enable preservice and in-service teachers to optimize their teaching practices and to maximize the opportunity to learn for all students. It is the most practical condensation of recommendations for the teaching of mathematics to date.

Portland, OR - J. Michael Shaughnessy

Whether you are an aspiring, beginning, or experienced teacher of mathematics, the authors have put together an indispensable book that will become your most dog-eared professional resource. Combining findings from the literature with their extensive experience as teachers, the authors answer some of the most frequently asked questions in five critical domains of effective mathematics teaching. This is the resource I wish I had when I was teaching!

Lincoln, NE - Matt Larson

This book does an excellent job formalizing a comprehensive approach to creating an environment in the mathematics classrooms that promotes equity, access, and a voice to all learners. I highly recommend this book to all mathematics teachers— beginning and experienced—and teacher educators, as it provides a blueprint for effective mathematics instruction.

St. Thomas, VI - Nadia Monrose Mills

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math provides an excellent resource for new math teachers and veteran teachers alike. The advice is practical and written such that strategies for increasing access and equity in mathematics can be implemented at any time of the year. The book centers students as doers of mathematics and gives the reader easy-to-read advice for how to promote a discourse-centered classroom where every student can be successful in mathematics.

Perrysburg, OH - Emma Vierheller

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math provides guidance to middle and high school teachers who are trying to change the nature of the way math is taught and learned in their classrooms. From how to build a classroom community to how to assess and advance student learning, the five key questions focus on essential elements required to create an environment in which each and every student can flourish. The practical advice provided reflects the cumulative experience and wisdom of the author team and is sure to resonate with teachers.

Pittsburg, PA - Margaret (Peg) S. Smith

This book answers key questions essential to setting up a classroom environment where students thrive using practical examples, tips, suggestions, and addressing frequently asked questions. This is a great handbook for any new teacher trying to figure it all out.

Springfield, VA - Chonda Long