High School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice

First Edition
Robert Q Berry - University of Virginia, United States
Basil M. Conway - Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
Brian R. Lawler - Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
John W Staley - Baltimore County Public Schools, Maryland
High School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice
March 2020 | 328 pages | Corwin
Create Flyer

Purchase

eBook
ISBN: 9781071806463
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781544352596
Available from January 0001

Description

Empower students to be the change—join the teaching mathematics for social justice movement!

We live in an era in which students have —through various media and their lived experiences— a more visceral experience of social, economic, and environmental injustices. However, when people think of social justice, mathematics is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. Through model lessons developed by over 30 diverse contributors, this book brings seemingly abstract high school mathematics content to life by connecting it to the issues students see and want to change in the world.

Along with expert guidance from the lead authors, the lessons in this book explain how to teach mathematics for self- and community-empowerment. It walks teachers step-by-step through the process of using mathematics—across all high school content domains—as a tool to explore, understand, and respond to issues of social injustice including: environmental injustice; wealth inequality; food insecurity; and gender, LGBTQ, and racial discrimination. This book features:

  • Content cross-referenced by mathematical concept and social issues
  • Downloadable instructional materials for student use
  • User-friendly and logical interior design for daily use
  • Guidance for designing and implementing social justice lessons driven by your own students’ unique passions and challenges

Timelier than ever, teaching mathematics through the lens of social justice will connect content to students’ daily lives, fortify their mathematical understanding, and expose them to issues that will make them responsive citizens and leaders in the future.

Contents

Preface by NCTM Past-President Robert Berry and NCSM Past-President John Staley

Preface by NCTM Past-President Robert Berry and NCSM Past-President John Staley

Introduction

Introduction

Part I

Part I

Chapter 1 Why is Social Justice and Why Does it Matter in Teaching Mathematics

  • What Do We Mean by Social Justice?
  • What is Teaching Mathematics for Social Justice
  • Why Social Justice in Mathematics Education
  • Reflection and Action

Chapter 2 Getting Ready for Classroom

  • Context Matters
  • Context Matters
  • When Matters
  • How Matters

Chapter 3 Instructional Tools for the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

  • Establishing Goals
  • Assessign Purposefully
  • Teaching Equitably
  • Managing Discourse
  • Conclusion
  • Reflection and Action

Chapter 4 Teaching the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

  • Social Justice Mathematics Framework
  • Planning to Implement SJML
  • Last Words Before You Go Teach
  • Conclusion
  • Reflection and action

Part II

Part II

Chapter 5 Number and Quantity

  • 5.1 The Mathematics of Transformation Resistance by Mary Candance
  • 5.2 Do Just Some Students Take Honors Course? By Basil Conway
  • 5.3 LISTEN to GLSEN by Bryan Meyer and John W. Staley
  • 5.4 Estimated Wealthy Distribution in USA and the World by Enrique Ortiz

Chapter 6 Algebra and Functions

  • 6.1 Children at the Border: Looking at the Numbers by Samantha Fletcher and Holly Anthony
  • 6.2 Climate Change in Alaska by Basil Conway IV
  • 6.3 Culturally Relevant Income Inequality by Andrew Reardon
  • 6.4 Intersectionality and The Wage Gap by Stacy Jones, Carlos Gomez, HIlary Tanck, and Eric Siy
  • 6.5 Literacy: What matters and why? By Frances Harper and Stephanie Orr
  • 6.6 What's a Fair Living Wage? By Frances Harper
  • 6.7 What's the Cost of Glbalization? By Allyson Hallman-Thrasher and Rachel Eriksen Brown

Chapter 7 Statistics and Probability

  • 7.1 A False Positive by Bryan Meyer
  • 7.2 Are you a Citizen? 2020 Census by Travis Weiland and Lisa Poling
  • 7.3 "BBQ, Becky," Policing, and racial Justice by Mary Raygoza
  • 7.4 Do Postal Codes Predict Test Scores? by Allyson Lam
  • 7.5 Humanizing the Immigration Debate by Aysenur Ozturk and Steve Lewis
  • 7.6 Prison Population by Cristina Tyris
  • 7.7 Sampling Disaster by Ginny Powell and America Powell

Chapter 8 Geometry

  • 8.1 Bringing Healthy Food Choices to Desert by Shakiyya Bland
  • 8.2 Gerrymandering by Sven A. Carlsson
  • 8.3 Making Mathematical Sense of Food Justice by Jessica Davidson, Dr. Steven Greenstein, Debasmita Bas, and Julia Davidson
  • 8.4 Paralympics by Eric Siy, Stacy R. Jones, Carlos, Nicholas Gomez, and HIlary Tanck

Part III

Part III

Chatper 9 Voices from the Field

  • Success Implementing SJMLs
  • Planning for and Responding to Challenges
  • Additional Advice to Colleagues Implementing SJMLs
  • Conclusion
  • Closing Thoughts from Our Contributors

Chapter 10 Creating Social Justice Mathematics Lessons for your Own Classroom

  • Setting a Framework for an Effective SJML
  • Getting Started
  • Final Words

Appendix A Recommended readings & resources

Appendix A Recommended readings & resources

Appendix B Resources names in lessons

Appendix B Resources names in lessons

Appendix C Mathematical Essential Concepts

Appendix C Mathematical Essential Concepts

Appendix D Social Justice Standards & Topics

Appendix D Social Justice Standards & Topics

Appendix E Lessons by Math Content, Social Justice Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics

Appendix E Lessons by Math Content, Social Justice Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics

Appendix F SJML Planner

Appendix F SJML Planner

Description

Empower students to be the change—join the teaching mathematics for social justice movement!

We live in an era in which students have —through various media and their lived experiences— a more visceral experience of social, economic, and environmental injustices. However, when people think of social justice, mathematics is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. Through model lessons developed by over 30 diverse contributors, this book brings seemingly abstract high school mathematics content to life by connecting it to the issues students see and want to change in the world.

Along with expert guidance from the lead authors, the lessons in this book explain how to teach mathematics for self- and community-empowerment. It walks teachers step-by-step through the process of using mathematics—across all high school content domains—as a tool to explore, understand, and respond to issues of social injustice including: environmental injustice; wealth inequality; food insecurity; and gender, LGBTQ, and racial discrimination. This book features:

  • Content cross-referenced by mathematical concept and social issues
  • Downloadable instructional materials for student use
  • User-friendly and logical interior design for daily use
  • Guidance for designing and implementing social justice lessons driven by your own students’ unique passions and challenges

Timelier than ever, teaching mathematics through the lens of social justice will connect content to students’ daily lives, fortify their mathematical understanding, and expose them to issues that will make them responsive citizens and leaders in the future.

Contents

Preface by NCTM Past-President Robert Berry and NCSM Past-President John Staley

Preface by NCTM Past-President Robert Berry and NCSM Past-President John Staley

Introduction

Introduction

Part I

Part I

Chapter 1 Why is Social Justice and Why Does it Matter in Teaching Mathematics

  • What Do We Mean by Social Justice?
  • What is Teaching Mathematics for Social Justice
  • Why Social Justice in Mathematics Education
  • Reflection and Action

Chapter 2 Getting Ready for Classroom

  • Context Matters
  • Context Matters
  • When Matters
  • How Matters

Chapter 3 Instructional Tools for the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

  • Establishing Goals
  • Assessign Purposefully
  • Teaching Equitably
  • Managing Discourse
  • Conclusion
  • Reflection and Action

Chapter 4 Teaching the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

  • Social Justice Mathematics Framework
  • Planning to Implement SJML
  • Last Words Before You Go Teach
  • Conclusion
  • Reflection and action

Part II

Part II

Chapter 5 Number and Quantity

  • 5.1 The Mathematics of Transformation Resistance by Mary Candance
  • 5.2 Do Just Some Students Take Honors Course? By Basil Conway
  • 5.3 LISTEN to GLSEN by Bryan Meyer and John W. Staley
  • 5.4 Estimated Wealthy Distribution in USA and the World by Enrique Ortiz

Chapter 6 Algebra and Functions

  • 6.1 Children at the Border: Looking at the Numbers by Samantha Fletcher and Holly Anthony
  • 6.2 Climate Change in Alaska by Basil Conway IV
  • 6.3 Culturally Relevant Income Inequality by Andrew Reardon
  • 6.4 Intersectionality and The Wage Gap by Stacy Jones, Carlos Gomez, HIlary Tanck, and Eric Siy
  • 6.5 Literacy: What matters and why? By Frances Harper and Stephanie Orr
  • 6.6 What's a Fair Living Wage? By Frances Harper
  • 6.7 What's the Cost of Glbalization? By Allyson Hallman-Thrasher and Rachel Eriksen Brown

Chapter 7 Statistics and Probability

  • 7.1 A False Positive by Bryan Meyer
  • 7.2 Are you a Citizen? 2020 Census by Travis Weiland and Lisa Poling
  • 7.3 "BBQ, Becky," Policing, and racial Justice by Mary Raygoza
  • 7.4 Do Postal Codes Predict Test Scores? by Allyson Lam
  • 7.5 Humanizing the Immigration Debate by Aysenur Ozturk and Steve Lewis
  • 7.6 Prison Population by Cristina Tyris
  • 7.7 Sampling Disaster by Ginny Powell and America Powell

Chapter 8 Geometry

  • 8.1 Bringing Healthy Food Choices to Desert by Shakiyya Bland
  • 8.2 Gerrymandering by Sven A. Carlsson
  • 8.3 Making Mathematical Sense of Food Justice by Jessica Davidson, Dr. Steven Greenstein, Debasmita Bas, and Julia Davidson
  • 8.4 Paralympics by Eric Siy, Stacy R. Jones, Carlos, Nicholas Gomez, and HIlary Tanck

Part III

Part III

Chatper 9 Voices from the Field

  • Success Implementing SJMLs
  • Planning for and Responding to Challenges
  • Additional Advice to Colleagues Implementing SJMLs
  • Conclusion
  • Closing Thoughts from Our Contributors

Chapter 10 Creating Social Justice Mathematics Lessons for your Own Classroom

  • Setting a Framework for an Effective SJML
  • Getting Started
  • Final Words

Appendix A Recommended readings & resources

Appendix A Recommended readings & resources

Appendix B Resources names in lessons

Appendix B Resources names in lessons

Appendix C Mathematical Essential Concepts

Appendix C Mathematical Essential Concepts

Appendix D Social Justice Standards & Topics

Appendix D Social Justice Standards & Topics

Appendix E Lessons by Math Content, Social Justice Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics

Appendix E Lessons by Math Content, Social Justice Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics

Appendix F SJML Planner

Appendix F SJML Planner

SAGE Publishing Logo

High School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice


March 2020 | 328 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781544352596 $40.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781071806463 $37.00

Empower students to be the change—join the teaching mathematics for social justice movement!

We live in an era in which students have —through various media and their lived experiences— a more visceral experience of social, economic, and environmental injustices. However, when people think of social justice, mathematics is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. Through model lessons developed by over 30 diverse contributors, this book brings seemingly abstract high school mathematics content to life by connecting it to the issues students see and want to change in the world.

Along with expert guidance from the lead authors, the lessons in this book explain how to teach mathematics for self- and community-empowerment. It walks teachers step-by-step through the process of using mathematics—across all high school content domains—as a tool to explore, understand, and respond to issues of social injustice including: environmental injustice; wealth inequality; food insecurity; and gender, LGBTQ, and racial discrimination. This book features:

  • Content cross-referenced by mathematical concept and social issues
  • Downloadable instructional materials for student use
  • User-friendly and logical interior design for daily use
  • Guidance for designing and implementing social justice lessons driven by your own students’ unique passions and challenges

Timelier than ever, teaching mathematics through the lens of social justice will connect content to students’ daily lives, fortify their mathematical understanding, and expose them to issues that will make them responsive citizens and leaders in the future.


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface by NCTM Past-President Robert Berry and NCSM Past-President John Staley
  • Introduction
  • Part I
  • Chapter 1 Why is Social Justice and Why Does it Matter in Teaching Mathematics
  • What Do We Mean by Social Justice?
  • What is Teaching Mathematics for Social Justice
  • Why Social Justice in Mathematics Education
  • Reflection and Action
  • Chapter 2 Getting Ready for Classroom
  • Context Matters
  • Context Matters
  • When Matters
  • How Matters
  • Chapter 3 Instructional Tools for the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson
  • Establishing Goals
  • Assessign Purposefully
  • Teaching Equitably
  • Managing Discourse
  • Conclusion
  • Reflection and Action
  • Chapter 4 Teaching the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson
  • Social Justice Mathematics Framework
  • Planning to Implement SJML
  • Last Words Before You Go Teach
  • Conclusion
  • Reflection and action
  • Part II
  • Chapter 5 Number and Quantity
  • 5.1 The Mathematics of Transformation Resistance by Mary Candance
  • 5.2 Do Just Some Students Take Honors Course? By Basil Conway
  • 5.3 LISTEN to GLSEN by Bryan Meyer and John W. Staley
  • 5.4 Estimated Wealthy Distribution in USA and the World by Enrique Ortiz
  • Chapter 6 Algebra and Functions
  • 6.1 Children at the Border: Looking at the Numbers by Samantha Fletcher and Holly Anthony
  • 6.2 Climate Change in Alaska by Basil Conway IV
  • 6.3 Culturally Relevant Income Inequality by Andrew Reardon
  • 6.4 Intersectionality and The Wage Gap by Stacy Jones, Carlos Gomez, HIlary Tanck, and Eric Siy
  • 6.5 Literacy: What matters and why? By Frances Harper and Stephanie Orr
  • 6.6 What's a Fair Living Wage? By Frances Harper
  • 6.7 What's the Cost of Glbalization? By Allyson Hallman-Thrasher and Rachel Eriksen Brown
  • Chapter 7 Statistics and Probability
  • 7.1 A False Positive by Bryan Meyer
  • 7.2 Are you a Citizen? 2020 Census by Travis Weiland and Lisa Poling
  • 7.3 "BBQ, Becky," Policing, and racial Justice by Mary Raygoza
  • 7.4 Do Postal Codes Predict Test Scores? by Allyson Lam
  • 7.5 Humanizing the Immigration Debate by Aysenur Ozturk and Steve Lewis
  • 7.6 Prison Population by Cristina Tyris
  • 7.7 Sampling Disaster by Ginny Powell and America Powell
  • Chapter 8 Geometry
  • 8.1 Bringing Healthy Food Choices to Desert by Shakiyya Bland
  • 8.2 Gerrymandering by Sven A. Carlsson
  • 8.3 Making Mathematical Sense of Food Justice by Jessica Davidson, Dr. Steven Greenstein, Debasmita Bas, and Julia Davidson
  • 8.4 Paralympics by Eric Siy, Stacy R. Jones, Carlos, Nicholas Gomez, and HIlary Tanck
  • Part III
  • Chatper 9 Voices from the Field
  • Success Implementing SJMLs
  • Planning for and Responding to Challenges
  • Additional Advice to Colleagues Implementing SJMLs
  • Conclusion
  • Closing Thoughts from Our Contributors
  • Chapter 10 Creating Social Justice Mathematics Lessons for your Own Classroom
  • Setting a Framework for an Effective SJML
  • Getting Started
  • Final Words
  • Appendix A Recommended readings & resources
  • Appendix B Resources names in lessons
  • Appendix C Mathematical Essential Concepts
  • Appendix D Social Justice Standards & Topics
  • Appendix E Lessons by Math Content, Social Justice Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics
  • Appendix F SJML Planner

Recent Product Reviews:

I did not receive the digital copy yetLena Lindenskovlenali@edu.au.dk
Professor Lena Lindenskov, Danish School of Education, Aarhus University

Recommendations