Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math

Five to Thrive [series]
John J. SanGiovanni - Howard Public School System
Susie Katt - Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska
Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math
August 2021 | 232 pages | Corwin
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eBook
ISBN: 9781071861240
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781071857717
Available from January 0001

Description

Your guide to grow and learn as a math teacher!

Let’s face it, teaching elementary math can be hard. So much about how we teach math today may look and feel different from how we learned it. Today, we recognize placing the student at the center of their learning increases engagement, motivation, and academic achievement soars. 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 elementary 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 elementary math classroom:  
1. How do I build a positive math community?
2. How do I structure, organize, and manage my math class?
3. How do I engage my students in math?
4. How do I help my students talk about math?
5. 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?
 

Contents

About the Authors

About the Authors

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Introduction

  • Chapter 1: How Do I Build a Math Community?
  • Chapter 2: How Do I Structure, Organize, and Manage My Math Class?
  • Chapter 3: How Do I Engage My Students in Math?
  • Chapter 4: How Do I Help My Students Talk About Math?
  • Chapter 5: How Do I Know What My Students Know and Move Them Forward?
  • Chapter 6: Where Do I Go From Here?

References

References

Description

Your guide to grow and learn as a math teacher!

Let’s face it, teaching elementary math can be hard. So much about how we teach math today may look and feel different from how we learned it. Today, we recognize placing the student at the center of their learning increases engagement, motivation, and academic achievement soars. 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 elementary 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 elementary math classroom:  
1. How do I build a positive math community?
2. How do I structure, organize, and manage my math class?
3. How do I engage my students in math?
4. How do I help my students talk about math?
5. 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?
 

Contents

About the Authors

About the Authors

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Introduction

  • Chapter 1: How Do I Build a Math Community?
  • Chapter 2: How Do I Structure, Organize, and Manage My Math Class?
  • Chapter 3: How Do I Engage My Students in Math?
  • Chapter 4: How Do I Help My Students Talk About Math?
  • Chapter 5: How Do I Know What My Students Know and Move Them Forward?
  • Chapter 6: Where Do I Go From Here?

References

References

SAGE Publishing Logo

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math

Five to Thrive [series]


August 2021 | 232 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781071857717 $40.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781071861240 $37.00

Your guide to grow and learn as a math teacher!

Let’s face it, teaching elementary math can be hard. So much about how we teach math today may look and feel different from how we learned it. Today, we recognize placing the student at the center of their learning increases engagement, motivation, and academic achievement soars. 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 elementary 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 elementary math classroom:  
1. How do I build a positive math community?
2. How do I structure, organize, and manage my math class?
3. How do I engage my students in math?
4. How do I help my students talk about math?
5. 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?
 

Table Of Contents:

  • About the Authors
  • Acknowledgements
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1: How Do I Build a Math Community?
  • Chapter 2: How Do I Structure, Organize, and Manage My Math Class?
  • Chapter 3: How Do I Engage My Students in Math?
  • Chapter 4: How Do I Help My Students Talk About Math?
  • Chapter 5: How Do I Know What My Students Know and Move Them Forward?
  • Chapter 6: Where Do I Go From Here?
  • References

Recent Product Reviews:

As an instructional coach, I will be recommending this book to every teacher I coach. The format is user-friendly and the content is extraordinary! This book answers questions I hear from teachers every day. What's the best way to make anchor charts? How do I organize my math block? How do I make math student-centered? How do I plan for small group instruction? These and other pertinent questions are answered with best practice, culturally relevant, growth mindset, and mathematical practices in mind. I am looking forward to using this for a book study with several groups of teachers I coach! Game-changer!
Gail Donahue, Ph.D. (Instructional Coach), Notre Dame of Maryland University
"A must-have for new teachers! This book could be called Everything I Should Have Learned in College About Teaching Math. Universities should use this in tandem with Van de Walle: easy to read and well organized to understand how to teach math versus what to teach. It includes countless tips, and the notes throughout about access, agency, and equity are invaluable"
Colleen Pollitt, Towson University
"From the Introduction through Chapter 6, this easy-to-read book summarized what all elementary math teachers should know and do. The ideas and suggestions are doable in all of our classrooms. This book will be on my desk as a reference to read as well as share with the teachers I coach. Thank you for reminding this Year 30 teacher of many procedures, practices, and routines that I need to reinstate after the horrendous 2020–2021 School Year!"
Laura Vizdos Tomas, School District of Palm Beach County, LearningThroughMath.com
"As a former teacher, and currently as a K–8 principal, I find this book to be an invaluable resource! The book is structured in such a systematic way that it allows the reader to start on page 1 or strategically turn to a chapter that will lend guidance to a specific question or need. The book is a must-read due to its practical application that is grounded in research. As a principal, this book also serves as a tool to assist me in giving valuable feedback to teachers."
Scott Gaudet, Greene-Hills School
"As a teacher who just completed her second-year teaching, I can attest that new teachers would benefit greatly from this book. This is an easy-to use answer guide to many questions regarding mathematics teaching principles including building community and engaging students in math talk. It is an invaluable resource for new teachers and anyone who is looking for extra guidance in mathematics instruction."
Lauren Cope, Lincoln Public Schools

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