Classroom-Ready Rich Math Tasks, Grades 2-3: Engaging Students in Doing Math

by Beth McCord Kobett, Francis M. Fennell, Karen S. Karp, Desiree Yvonne Harrison, Barbara Ann Swartz

Overview

Detailed plans for helping elementary students experience deep mathematical learning

The mathematical tasks in this guide will challenge your youngest students to do deep problem-based learning. These ready-to-implement tasks connect concepts, skills, and practices and encourage students to reason, problem-solve, discuss, explore, justify, monitor their own thinking, and connect the mathematics they know to new situations. In other words, these tasks allow students to truly do mathematics! Written with a strengths-based lens, this guide includes:

• Complete task-based lessons, referencing mathematics standards and practices, vocabulary, and materials
• Downloadable planning tools, student resource pages, and thoughtful questions, and formative assessment prompts
• Guidance on preparing, launching, facilitating, and reflecting on each task
• Notes on access and equity, focusing on students’ strengths, productive struggle, and distance or alternative learning environments

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781544399133
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	06/30/2021
Series:	Corwin Mathematics Series
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	221,122
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Beth Mc Cord Kobett, Ed D, is Professor of Education and Associate Dean at Stevenson University, where she leads, teaches and supports early childhood, elementary, and middle preservice teachers in mathematics education. She is a former classroom teacher, elementary mathematics specialist, adjunct professor, and university supervisor. Beth also served as the Director of the First Year Seminar program at Stevenson University. She recently completed a three-year term as an elected Board Member for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and was the former president of the Association of Maryland Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMMTE). Beth leads professional learning efforts in mathematics education both regionally and nationally. Beth is a recipient of the Mathematics Educator of the Year Award from the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) and the Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Alumni Award. Beth also received Stevenson University’s Rose Dawson Award for Excellence in Teaching as both an adjunct and full-time faculty member. Beth believes in fostering a strengths-based community with her students and strives to make her learning space inviting, facilitate lessons that spark curiosity and innovation, and cultivate positive productive struggle.

Karen S. Karp is a professor in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, she was a professor of mathematics education in the Department of Early and Elementary Childhood Education at the University of Louisville, where she received the President’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the Distinguished Service Award for a Career of Service. She is a former member of the board of directors of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and a former president of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE). She is a member of the author panel for the What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide on assisting elementary school students who have difficulty learning mathematics for the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Educational Sciences. She is the author or coauthor of approximately 20 book chapters, 50 articles, and 30 books, including Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, Developing Essential Understanding of Addition and Subtraction for Teaching Mathematics, and Inspiring Girls to Think Mathematically. She holds teaching certifications in elementary education, secondary mathematics, and K–12 special education.

Desiree Harrison is an elementary mathematics coach for Farmington Public Schools in Michigan, where she works with individual teachers and teams of teachers on increasing student engagement and learning, and implementing math routines. Currently, she serves as a board member for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and is the immediate past president of the Detroit Area Council of Teachers of Mathematics (DACTM). In May 2020, Desiree became the latest recipient of the DACTM Christine Kincaid-Dewey Educator of the Year award, which is focused on service to the mathematics education community and increasing student engagement with mathematics. She is super passionate about and involved in the field of elementary mathematics education and hosts the Kids Math Talk podcast, which is for educators and parents of elementary students and is devoted to keeping the conversation about mathematics active and positive.

Table of Contents

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

About the Authors xvii

Chapter 1 Doing-Math Tasks: What Are They, Why Are They Important, and How Do I Plan for Implementation? 1

Chapter 2 Laying the Groundwork for Teaching With Doing-Math Tasks 10

Chapter 3 Implementing a Doing-Math Task-Based Lesson 28

Chapter 4 Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Representing and Solving Problems 48

Task 1 Grade 2: Carl's Final Home Game 50

Task 2 Grade 3: School Store Tickets 54

Task 3 Grade 2: Silas's Dinosaur Collection 59

Task 4 Grade 3: The Baby Animal Mystery 63

Chapter 5 Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Multiplication and Division Foundations 68

Task 5 Grade 2: Egg Carton Extravaganza 71

Task 6 Grade 3: Grover Elementary School Garden 76

Task 7 Grade 2: Puzzle Piece Mix Up 80

Task 8 Grade 3: Art Camp 86

Task 9 Grade 3: Tiling a Bathroom Floor 92

Task 10 Grade 3: Marching Band Arrangements 98

Chapter 6 Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Understanding and Interpreting Operations 104

Task 11 Grade 2: Fact Strategy Fun 106

Task 12 Grade 3: Table Arrangements for Koala Bears 109

Task 13 Grade 3: How Many Sides Do I Have? 115

Task 14 Grade 3: How Many Times Can You Make a Shape? 119

Task 15 Grade 3: 72 Ants at a Picnic 123

Chapter 7 Number and Operations in Base Ten: Using Place Value Understandings 128

Task 16 Grade 2: Recycling Markers 131

Task 17 Grade 3: Bags and More Bags! 138

Task 18 Grade 2: Heather's Apple-Picking Adventure 144

Task 19 Grade 2: Button Collage 148

Task 20 Grade 2: Comparing Quantities 152

Chapter 8 Number and Operations in Base Ten: Adding, Subtracting, and More 156

Task 21 Grade 2: Find My Four! 159

Task 22 Grade 3: Super Saturday Sale 164

Task 23 Grade 3: Annual Book Drive 169

Task 24 Grade 2: Sticker Collection 173

Task 25 Grade 3: World Record Auditions Today! 178

Task 26 Grade 2: Mystery Number Hunt 182

Chapter 9 Number and Operations in Base Ten: Adding, Subtracting, and Multiplying 186

Task 27 Grade 2: Largest or Smallest? 188

Task 28 Grade 3: Restocking the School Store 192

Task 29 Grade 2: Outdoor Picnic Treat 195

Task 30 Grade 3: Day at the Arcade 199

Chapter 10 Numbers and Operations-Fractions: Partitioning and Representing 204

Task 31 Grade 2: Sharing Cookies 207

Task 32 Grade 3: Melba's Marvelous Macaroni and Cheese 212

Task 33 Grade 2: The Origami Elephant Debate 216

Task 34 Grade 2: Planning for the School Field Day 220

Task 35 Grade 3: Sharing Cake 223

Task 36 Grade 3: Fraction Rulers 228

Chapter 11 Number and Operations-Fractions: Equivalence, Comparing, and Representing 232

Task 37 Grade 3: Tandem Bike Race Partners 235

Task 38 Grade 3: Time for Fractions! 239

Task 39 Grade 3: Cousins Compare! Using Number Lines 243

Task 40 Grade 3: Crazy, Mixed-Up Fractions 247

Chapter 12 Measurement: Time, Money, Length, and Weight 250

Task 41 Grade 2: Super Saturday Schedule 252

Task 42 Grade 2: Ernie's New Toy Car 257

Task 43 Grade 3: Matching Weights 264

Task 44 Grade 2: Measurement Mania! 268

Chapter 13 Measurement and Data: Measuring, Representing, and Interpreting Data 272

Task 45 Grade 3: Voting on Choosing a Class Pet 274

Task 46 Grade 2: Monsters in the Classroom! 278

Task 47 Grade 3: Escape at the Zoo 282

Chapter 14 Geometric Measurement: Measurement, Perimeter, and Area 286

Task 48 Grade 2: Cover the Hot Lava! 288

Task 49 Grade 3: Gymnastics Unit 292

Task 50 Grade 2: Erin's Ant Farm Paths 295

Task 51 Grade 3: Chicken Coop Conundrum 299

Chapter 15 Geometry: Reasoning With Shapes and Their Attributes 302

Task 52 Grade 2: 3 Clues to Guess Who! 304

Task 53 Grade 3: Shape Sort 308

Task 54 Grade 2: Quick Sketch and Shape Sorting 312

Task 55 Grade 3: Shape Spinner Fractions 316

Chapter 16 Your Turn 321

Appendix A Task Lesson Template 329

Appendix B Formative Assessment Tools 330

References 333

Index 339

Editorial Reviews

The core of great math teaching is the high-quality task, brought to life through rich interactions. These tasks must be engaging and both mathematically and pedagogically generative—of interesting content and mathematical processes and practices. This valuable book is filled with such tasks, as well as guidance in planning and implementing them and materials for maximum enjoyment and benefit for teachers and their students.

Douglas H. Clements

I highly recommend this book, which provides a research-based framework for engaging in rich tasks that are connected to and build on previous mathematical understanding, relevant contexts, and students’ experiences and resources, as well as connecting to mathematics teaching practice. The 55 high cognitively demanding tasks included support the development of important mathematics norms, practices, and concepts.

Robert Q. Berry

Classroom-Ready Rich Math Tasks, Grades 2–3 is an excellent resource for teachers, teacher educators, and professional development providers who want to engage students in high-level, cognitively demanding mathematics tasks. The book does an excellent job of explaining the why and the how of implementing doing mathematics tasks. To top it off, this book has a treasure trove of rich mathematics tasks for teachers to choose from.

Kyndall Brown

This book answers the often-asked question, ‘Where can I find good tasks?’ The authors have assembled a collection of rich mathematical tasks and provided guidance on how to plan and implement lessons around them in ways that will support opportunities for students to learn mathematics with understanding. This book is a game changer for 2nd and 3rd grade teachers who want their students to do math!

Margaret (Peg) Smith

This book’s title reveals its promise. Classroom-Ready Rich Math Tasks offers teachers an abundant collection of practical challenges for engaging their students in building mathematical fluency and developing strategic reasoning—exactly what all the Mathematics Standards expect.

Jay Mc Tighe

By integrating the latest research with a powerful teacher voice, the authors have written a must-read for every teacher of mathematics who wants their students to have a more motivating and powerful classroom experience. But the authors don’t simply argue that teachers include high-cognitive demand tasks in their teaching—they take the next steps and actually demonstrate how to plan for, implement, and support these tasks so each student can authentically engage in doing mathematics!

Matt Larson

This book takes the mystery out of how to implement rich, engaging tasks. It supports teachers with appropriately facilitating productive struggle and formative assessment through strengths spotting, and includes loads of fantastically written tasks. No longer will teachers need to hunt for tasks to utilize in their classrooms or struggle with how to structure environments that promote deep learning.

Natalie Crist

Finding the right task that invites young learners to think and reason mathematically isn’t always easy. This impressive book offers various high-quality tasks and addresses planning and implementation considerations. It is an invaluable resource for everyone who strives to provide worthwhile learning experiences for kindergarten and first grade mathematicians!

Susie Katt