Every Math Learner, Grades 6-12

A Doable Approach to Teaching With Learning Differences in Mind
Nanci N. Smith - Effective Classrooms Educational Consulting, LLC (President & CEO)
Every Math Learner, Grades 6-12
February 2017 | 352 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781506390352
Available from January 0001
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ISBN: 9781506340746
Available from January 0001

Description

As a secondary mathematics teacher, you know that students are different and learn differently. And yet, when students enter your classroom, you somehow must teach these unique individuals deep mathematics content using rigorous standards. The curriculum is vast and the stakes are high. Is differentiation really the answer?  How can you make it work?

Nationally recognized math differentiation expert Nanci Smith debunks the myths, revealing what differentiation is and isn’t. In this engaging book Smith reveals a practical approach to teaching for real learning differences. You’ll gain insights into an achievable, daily differentiation process for ALL students.

Theory-lite and practice-heavy, this book shows how to maintain order and sanity while helping your students know, understand, and even enjoy doing mathematics. Classroom videos, teacher vignettes, ready-to-go lesson ideas and rich mathematics examples help you build a manageable framework of engaging, sense-making math. 

Busy secondary mathematics teachers, coaches, and teacher teams will learn to

  • Provide practical structures for assessing how each of your students learns and processes mathematics concepts
  • Design, implement, manage, and formatively assess and respond to learning in a differentiated classroom
  • Plan specific, standards-aligned differentiated lessons, activities, and assessments
  • Adjust current instructional materials and program resources to better meet students' needs

This book includes classroom videos, in-depth student work samples, student surveys, templates, before-and-after lesson demonstrations, examples of 5-day sequenced lessons, and a robust companion website with downloadables of all the tools in the books plus other resources for further planning. Every Math Learner, Grades 6-12 will help you know and understand your students as learners for daily differentiation that accelerates their mathematics comprehension.

“This book is an excellent resource for teachers and administrators alike. It clearly explains key tenants of effective differentiation and through an interactive approach offers numerous practical examples of secondary mathematics differentiation. This book is a must read for any educator looking to reach all students.”
—Brad Weinhold, Ed.D., Assistant Principal, Overland High School

Contents

Video Contents

Video Contents

Foreword by Carol Ann Tomlinson

Foreword by Carol Ann Tomlinson

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

  • CHAPTER 1. START UP: Why Knowing and Addressing Students’ Learning Differences Is Critical
  • Introduction
  • What Differentiation Is and Is Not
  • A Glance at a Differentiated Classroom
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 2. FIND OUT: Strategies for Determining Who Each of Your Students Is as a Mathematics Learner
  • Who Our Learners Are
  • Strategies to Determine Readiness
  • Strategies to Determine Interest
  • Strategies to Determine Learning Profile
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 3. TEACH UP: Making Sense of Rigorous Mathematical Content
  • Mathematics Makes Sense
  • Themes and Big Ideas in Mathematics
  • Teaching Up
  • What Learning Mathematics With Understanding Looks Like
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 4. STEP UP: How to Make Proactive Planning Decisions That Deepen Thinking
  • Decisions, Decisions
  • Differentiation and KUDs
  • Strategies for Differentiation
  • Classroom Structures
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 5. SET IT UP: Establishing the Right Tone to Make Differentiation Doable
  • A Healthy Learning Environment
  • Embracing Fair
  • Everybody Learns
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 6. POWER ON: Mastering and Modeling Daily Routines for Achievement All Year
  • Classroom Routines
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 7. STEP BACK: Tools for Assessing and Evaluating in a Differentiated Classroom
  • Assessment For, Of, and As Learning
  • Principles to Develop Assessments
  • Designing Effective Assessments
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 8. CLOSE UP: A Week in the Life of a Differentiated Mathematics Classroom
  • A Look Into a Week in a Middle School Classroom
  • A Look Into a Week in a High School Classroom
  • Advice From the Field
  • Conclusion
  • Appendix A: Further Reading on the Topic of English Language Learners
  • Appendix B: Further Reading on the Topic of Special Education
  • Appendix C: Further Reading on the Topic of Rich Problems and Mathematical Discourse

References

References

Index

Index

Resources

Embracing Differences Video


Description

As a secondary mathematics teacher, you know that students are different and learn differently. And yet, when students enter your classroom, you somehow must teach these unique individuals deep mathematics content using rigorous standards. The curriculum is vast and the stakes are high. Is differentiation really the answer?  How can you make it work?

Nationally recognized math differentiation expert Nanci Smith debunks the myths, revealing what differentiation is and isn’t. In this engaging book Smith reveals a practical approach to teaching for real learning differences. You’ll gain insights into an achievable, daily differentiation process for ALL students.

Theory-lite and practice-heavy, this book shows how to maintain order and sanity while helping your students know, understand, and even enjoy doing mathematics. Classroom videos, teacher vignettes, ready-to-go lesson ideas and rich mathematics examples help you build a manageable framework of engaging, sense-making math. 

Busy secondary mathematics teachers, coaches, and teacher teams will learn to

  • Provide practical structures for assessing how each of your students learns and processes mathematics concepts
  • Design, implement, manage, and formatively assess and respond to learning in a differentiated classroom
  • Plan specific, standards-aligned differentiated lessons, activities, and assessments
  • Adjust current instructional materials and program resources to better meet students' needs

This book includes classroom videos, in-depth student work samples, student surveys, templates, before-and-after lesson demonstrations, examples of 5-day sequenced lessons, and a robust companion website with downloadables of all the tools in the books plus other resources for further planning. Every Math Learner, Grades 6-12 will help you know and understand your students as learners for daily differentiation that accelerates their mathematics comprehension.

“This book is an excellent resource for teachers and administrators alike. It clearly explains key tenants of effective differentiation and through an interactive approach offers numerous practical examples of secondary mathematics differentiation. This book is a must read for any educator looking to reach all students.”
—Brad Weinhold, Ed.D., Assistant Principal, Overland High School

Contents

Video Contents

Video Contents

Foreword by Carol Ann Tomlinson

Foreword by Carol Ann Tomlinson

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

  • CHAPTER 1. START UP: Why Knowing and Addressing Students’ Learning Differences Is Critical
  • Introduction
  • What Differentiation Is and Is Not
  • A Glance at a Differentiated Classroom
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 2. FIND OUT: Strategies for Determining Who Each of Your Students Is as a Mathematics Learner
  • Who Our Learners Are
  • Strategies to Determine Readiness
  • Strategies to Determine Interest
  • Strategies to Determine Learning Profile
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 3. TEACH UP: Making Sense of Rigorous Mathematical Content
  • Mathematics Makes Sense
  • Themes and Big Ideas in Mathematics
  • Teaching Up
  • What Learning Mathematics With Understanding Looks Like
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 4. STEP UP: How to Make Proactive Planning Decisions That Deepen Thinking
  • Decisions, Decisions
  • Differentiation and KUDs
  • Strategies for Differentiation
  • Classroom Structures
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 5. SET IT UP: Establishing the Right Tone to Make Differentiation Doable
  • A Healthy Learning Environment
  • Embracing Fair
  • Everybody Learns
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 6. POWER ON: Mastering and Modeling Daily Routines for Achievement All Year
  • Classroom Routines
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 7. STEP BACK: Tools for Assessing and Evaluating in a Differentiated Classroom
  • Assessment For, Of, and As Learning
  • Principles to Develop Assessments
  • Designing Effective Assessments
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 8. CLOSE UP: A Week in the Life of a Differentiated Mathematics Classroom
  • A Look Into a Week in a Middle School Classroom
  • A Look Into a Week in a High School Classroom
  • Advice From the Field
  • Conclusion
  • Appendix A: Further Reading on the Topic of English Language Learners
  • Appendix B: Further Reading on the Topic of Special Education
  • Appendix C: Further Reading on the Topic of Rich Problems and Mathematical Discourse

References

References

Index

Index

Resources

Embracing Differences Video


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Every Math Learner, Grades 6-12

A Doable Approach to Teaching With Learning Differences in Mind


February 2017 | 352 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 27/02/2023 9781506340746 $40.95
Lifetime 27/02/2023 9781506390352 $37.00

As a secondary mathematics teacher, you know that students are different and learn differently. And yet, when students enter your classroom, you somehow must teach these unique individuals deep mathematics content using rigorous standards. The curriculum is vast and the stakes are high. Is differentiation really the answer?  How can you make it work?

Nationally recognized math differentiation expert Nanci Smith debunks the myths, revealing what differentiation is and isn’t. In this engaging book Smith reveals a practical approach to teaching for real learning differences. You’ll gain insights into an achievable, daily differentiation process for ALL students.

Theory-lite and practice-heavy, this book shows how to maintain order and sanity while helping your students know, understand, and even enjoy doing mathematics. Classroom videos, teacher vignettes, ready-to-go lesson ideas and rich mathematics examples help you build a manageable framework of engaging, sense-making math. 

Busy secondary mathematics teachers, coaches, and teacher teams will learn to

  • Provide practical structures for assessing how each of your students learns and processes mathematics concepts
  • Design, implement, manage, and formatively assess and respond to learning in a differentiated classroom
  • Plan specific, standards-aligned differentiated lessons, activities, and assessments
  • Adjust current instructional materials and program resources to better meet students' needs

This book includes classroom videos, in-depth student work samples, student surveys, templates, before-and-after lesson demonstrations, examples of 5-day sequenced lessons, and a robust companion website with downloadables of all the tools in the books plus other resources for further planning. Every Math Learner, Grades 6-12 will help you know and understand your students as learners for daily differentiation that accelerates their mathematics comprehension.

“This book is an excellent resource for teachers and administrators alike. It clearly explains key tenants of effective differentiation and through an interactive approach offers numerous practical examples of secondary mathematics differentiation. This book is a must read for any educator looking to reach all students.”
—Brad Weinhold, Ed.D., Assistant Principal, Overland High School

Table Of Contents:

  • Video Contents
  • Foreword by Carol Ann Tomlinson
  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Author
  • CHAPTER 1. START UP: Why Knowing and Addressing Students’ Learning Differences Is Critical
  • Introduction
  • What Differentiation Is and Is Not
  • A Glance at a Differentiated Classroom
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 2. FIND OUT: Strategies for Determining Who Each of Your Students Is as a Mathematics Learner
  • Who Our Learners Are
  • Strategies to Determine Readiness
  • Strategies to Determine Interest
  • Strategies to Determine Learning Profile
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 3. TEACH UP: Making Sense of Rigorous Mathematical Content
  • Mathematics Makes Sense
  • Themes and Big Ideas in Mathematics
  • Teaching Up
  • What Learning Mathematics With Understanding Looks Like
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 4. STEP UP: How to Make Proactive Planning Decisions That Deepen Thinking
  • Decisions, Decisions
  • Differentiation and KUDs
  • Strategies for Differentiation
  • Classroom Structures
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 5. SET IT UP: Establishing the Right Tone to Make Differentiation Doable
  • A Healthy Learning Environment
  • Embracing Fair
  • Everybody Learns
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 6. POWER ON: Mastering and Modeling Daily Routines for Achievement All Year
  • Classroom Routines
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 7. STEP BACK: Tools for Assessing and Evaluating in a Differentiated Classroom
  • Assessment For, Of, and As Learning
  • Principles to Develop Assessments
  • Designing Effective Assessments
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Keepsakes and Plans
  • CHAPTER 8. CLOSE UP: A Week in the Life of a Differentiated Mathematics Classroom
  • A Look Into a Week in a Middle School Classroom
  • A Look Into a Week in a High School Classroom
  • Advice From the Field
  • Conclusion
  • Appendix A: Further Reading on the Topic of English Language Learners
  • Appendix B: Further Reading on the Topic of Special Education
  • Appendix C: Further Reading on the Topic of Rich Problems and Mathematical Discourse
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

“I will admit, when I first began reading, I was thinking ‘here we go again, another book on differentiation.’ As I read, my feelings quickly changed. I believe this book provides different information than previous books I’ve read on the subject. It is very easy to read, and most teachers could make substantive changes in their instruction immediately. This may be the quickest way to improve math learning and understanding I’ve seen. I am anxious to incorporate the strategies in this book in my planning for all students to enhance their ability to know, understand, and do math while loving it!”
Marcia Carlson, Classroom Teacher, Crestview School of Inquiry
“While we know that the importance of differentiation is the key to student engagement and success, implementing key differentiation practices remains elusive to us as we balance competing curriculum, student, and administrative demands. Smith’s book seamlessly unpacks what differentiation is and is not and provides explicit and, dare I say, beautiful examples of what this can look like in the classroom. You will be hooked from the first page and be inspired and empowered to transform your classroom, your teaching, and your students’ mathematical learning experiences through and with this practical, realistic, and meaningful differentiation system.”
Beth Kobett, EdD, Assistant Professor, Stevenson University
“I believe Dr. Nanci Smith’s Every Math Learner: A Doable Approach to Teaching With Learning Differences in Mind is arguably the best book now available for math teachers. In my conversations with math teachers and observations of classrooms, there is generally good-to-great expertise in math content knowledge. Problems occur, however, when there is lock-step reliance (perhaps with minor variations) on the math textbook or when there are beliefs and practices that all students predominately learn in the same way. Dr. Smith—a master teacher and trainer—flips the paradigm from teaching to learning. I’ve personally seen Dr. Smith’s work with teachers and know that she creates tremendous excitement within the teaching profession for practically and substantively moving from teacher-centered classrooms to learning centered classrooms that support the needs and interests of ALL students.”
Mark Boyer, Retired Assistant Superintendent for Learning, Singapore American School
“For years I have searched for a book that had practical tips and ideas of how to differentiate instruction for secondary mathematics. That book has FINALLY arrived! While reading the book, I felt like I was having a conversation with someone who understands students and what helps them make sense of their learning in the mathematics classroom. This book provides teachers with ‘common sense’ ideas and activities to help engage students in their own learning.”
Cathy Battles, Consultant, University of Missouri, Kansas City and Regional Professional Development Center
“Every Math Learner is a powerful tool for educators serious about meeting the needs of all learners in their mathematics classrooms. Nanci Smith balances philosophy with practicality while providing a glimpse into real classrooms with real students. Teachers will ultimately learn how to lift students up to their greatest potential in learning.”
Eileen Hogan, District Mathematics Facilitator, Winnetka District #36

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