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Succeeding at Teaching Secondary Mathematics
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Succeeding at Teaching Secondary Mathematics
Your First Year



March 2010 | 136 pages | Corwin

"Here is a resource that all math teachers can use. This book maps out a road to success by incorporating best practices, innovative ideas, and proven strategies that will help any teacher reach today's students. It is filled with illustrations and explanations on how to turn your classroom into an active learning environment that appeals to the students of the 21st century. This book is an invaluable resource in transforming my classroom—now my students want to come to math class, and they are learning!"
—Amanda McKee, Mathematics Teacher
Florence County School District #5, Johnsonville, SC

All the support and guidance new mathematics teachers need—in one invaluable resource!

In today's world of increased accountability, teaching mathematics offers more challenges than ever before. This resource helps beginning teachers get off to a great start by providing information on everything from assessment to standards-based teaching to student engagement strategies.

The authors focus on NCTM content and process standards and offer guidelines for instructing and assessing English language learners, students with special needs, and gifted students. Filled with practical strategies as well as helpful classroom vignettes that encourage thought-provoking discussions on teaching middle and high school mathematics, this guide shows teachers how to:

  • Focus on the big ideas in teaching mathematics
  • Design a curriculum that is meaningful
  • Differentiate instruction to include all learners
  • Engage students by meeting their affective, behavioral, and cognitive needs
  • Use a variety of methods to assess students' understanding

Covering the key elements to successful teaching, this essential mathematics resource helps beginning educators lead their class with confidence!


 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
 
1. A Glimpse at Mathematics Instruction
Two Illustrations

 
Vignette 1: Algebra I—Shake Across America

 
Discussion

 
Adaptations and Extensions

 
Vignette 2: Seventh Grade—Surface Area With Polydron Shapes

 
Discussion

 
Adaptations and Extensions

 
Success in Teaching Mathematics

 
Summary

 
 
2. Standards-Based Teaching
Why Do We Need Standards for Teaching Mathematics?

 
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards

 
State and District Standards for Teaching Mathematics

 
The Relationship Between Standards and Standards-Based Mathematics Textbooks

 
Aligning Algebraic Reading With the Process Standards

 
Summary

 
 
3. Engaging Students in Learning Mathematics
What Is Engagement?

 
Engaging Learners in the Affective Domain

 
Vignette 1: Math Clubs

 
Vignette 2: Seventh Grade—Math Jeopardy

 
Glasser's Five Basic Needs

 
Vignette 3: Increasing a Student's Confidence in Mathematics

 
A Fresh Look at Math Clubs and Math Jeopardy

 
Affective Issues Related to Teaching and Learning Mathematics

 
Students Engaged in Learning Probability

 
Engaging Learners in the Behavioral Domain

 
Engaging Learners in the Cognitive Domain

 
Summary

 
 
4. Engagement Strategies for Special Populations
Vignette 1: Disparate Learners in Algebra I

 
The Special Needs Learner

 
The Gifted Learner

 
The English Language Learner

 
Examples of Engaging Learners in a Mathematics Classroom

 
Vignette 2: Permutations, Counting, and Ice Cream Cones

 
Discussion

 
Summary

 
 
5. Assessment
Types of Assessment

 
Rubrics

 
Developing Assessments: The Use of Backward Design

 
Grading and Assessment Schemes

 
Practical Ways of Assessing Throughout the Instructional Process

 
Tailoring Assessments for Special Populations

 
Data Driven Instructional Practices

 
A Word About Standardized Tests

 
Summary

 
 
6. Putting It All Together
The Year at a Glance: Designing Your Curriculum

 
Making Connections Within Mathematics

 
Mathematical Connections Across the Grades

 
More Connections Across the Grades

 
Making Connections Across the Curriculum

 
Succeeding at Teaching Mathematics—and Loving It!

 
 
Appendix A: Solutions to Shake Across America
 
Appendix B: Solution to the Following Problem From the Polydron Vignette
 
Appendix C: The Dart Board Game Solution
 
Appendix D: Generalization for Original Pizza Problem
 
References
 
Index

“A nice addition to any burgeoning library of a new teacher.”

Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, April 2011

"A progressive book that tackles current issues facing teachers. The resources in this book are invaluable for new and practicing educators because of the shift in education toward developing data-driven cultures. This transformation has changed the responsibilities of teachers and the structure of mathematics classrooms in middle and high schools to a systematic approach, which facilitates student achievement and guides classrooms instruction."

Christina Silvas-Centeno, Mathematics Instructional Coach
San Jose Unified School District, CA

"Beginning teachers know more math and have met more psychological concepts than they'll ever need for teaching. What they really need and want now is a feel for how to communicate that math to students in the classroom. Roddick and Spitzer connect the dots for these teachers. Their well-designed classroom vignettes encourage beginners to think seriously about how to put together a lesson that engages and encourages students, how to work with children of differing abilities together in the same classroom, and how to evaluate all students fairly."

Gerald R. Rising, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
State University of New York

"Here is a resource that all math teachers can use. This book maps out a road to success by incorporating best practices, innovative ideas, and proven strategies that will help any teacher reach today's students. It is filled with illustrations and explanations on how to turn your classroom into an active learning environment that appeals to the students of the 21st century. This book was an invaluable resource in transforming my classroom—now my students want to come to math class, and they are learning!"

Amanda McKee, Mathematics Teacher
Florence County School District #5, Johnsonville, SC

"The authors do an excellent job of raising the most problematic issues for many first-year teachers and give rich mathematical tasks through vignettes that serve to raise, discuss and provide suggestions for addressing the issues. I highly recommend this book for the beginning teacher seeking advice for a successful first year of teaching."

Beatriz S. D'Ambrosio
Mathematics Teacher magazine, February 2011 (Vol. 104, No. 6)
Key features
  • Includes classroom vignettes that encourage thought-provoking discussions related to teaching middle and high school mathematics
  • Filled with tips charts and guidelines
  • Focuses on NCTM content and process standards
  • Gives particular attention to instructing and assessing English language learners, as well as special needs and gifted student populations
  • Provides easy-to-understand explanations of standards, assessments, and math-testing data analysis
  • Shows how to design a mathematics curriculum that makes connections across grade levels

Select a Purchasing Option


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ISBN: 9781452261096

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ISBN: 9781412927635
$31.95

This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.