"When will I ever use this stuff?" Students discover the answer to this question as they find solution paths to interesting scenarios such as "What size popcorn tub is best to purchase at a movie theater?" Problem solving, logic, geometry, probability, and communication are among the skills addressed.

All pupils - able children included - need to be taught strategies to enable their thinking skills to progress. They also need help with developing different approaches to problem solving. A sustained piece of work that requires perseverance, logical strategies, and refinement of method and extension of the original task is not the same as a straightforward quick-fix type problem. Both types of problem solving need to be taught. This book presents a series of activities that can be used with whole classes to provide a curriculum for the teaching of problem solving and the development of thinking skills. Each tried and tested investigation is clearly explained with ideas on how to introduce the task to a class, full solutions and resource sheets. Activities include prisoners: a fun way of generating square numbers; handshakes: exploring arithmetic progressions; T-shape: an activity to lead pupils from numerical calculations to algebraic generalizations; frogs: encouraging systematic working and listing; and opposite corners: an advanced piece of work for independent learners.

All pupils - able children included - need to be taught strategies to enable their thinking skills to progress. They also need help with developing different approaches to problem solving. A sustained piece of work that requires perseverance, logical strategies, and refinement of method and extension of the original task is not the same as a straightforward quick-fix type problem. Both types of problem solving need to be taught. This book presents a series of activities that can be used with whole classes to provide a curriculum for the teaching of problem solving and the development of thinking skills. Each tried and tested investigation is clearly explained with ideas on how to introduce the task to a class, full solutions and resource sheets. Activities include making 10p: a task to encourage systematic listing; tables and chairs: working systematically and spotting patterns; polygons and polyhedra: investigating diagonals, triangles, faces, edges and vertices; hidden faces: investigating different shapes and sizes of dice; and pond borders: investigating area and perimeter.

For centuries, educational policymakers have believed that studying mathematics is important, in part because it develops general thinking skills that are useful throughout life. This 'Theory of Formal Discipline' (TFD) has been used as a justification for mathematics education globally. Despite this, few empirical studies have directly investigated the issue, and those which have showed mixed results.Does Mathematical Study Develop Logical Thinking? describes a rigorous investigation of the TFD. It reviews the theory's history and prior research on the topic, followed by reports on a series of recent empirical studies. It argues that, contrary to the position held by sceptics, advanced mathematical study does develop certain general thinking skills, however these are much more restricted than those typically claimed by TFD proponents.Perfect for students, researchers and policymakers in education, further education and mathematics, this book provides much needed insight into the theory and practice of the foundations of modern educational policy.

Teacher candidates seeking certification to teach the middle-level grades in Texas's public schools must pass the TExES Core Subjects 4-8 exam. Written by a team of faculty experts led by Dr. Ann M.L. Cavallo, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, REAs test prep provides extensive coverage of the four core subject areas tested on the exam: English Language Arts and Reading (806); Mathematics (807); Social Studies (808); and Science (809). In addition to a thorough review, this test prep features a diagnostic test and 2 full-length practice test batteries (1 in the book and 1 online at the REA Study Center) that deal with every question type, competency, and skill tested on the exam. REAs online tests run under timed conditions and provide automatic scoring and diagnostic feedback on every question to help teacher candidates zero in on the topics that give them trouble now, so they can succeed on test day. -- Amazon.com.

REA's TExES Core Subjects 4-8 (211) Test Prep with Online Practice Tests Gets You Certified and in the Classroom! Teacher candidates seeking certification to teach the middle-level grades in Texas's public schools must pass the TExES Core Subjects 4-8 exam. Written by a team of faculty experts led by Dr. Ann M. L. Cavallo, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, REA's test prep provides extensive coverage of the four core subject areas tested on the exam: English Language Arts and Reading (806); Mathematics (807); Social Studies (808); and Science (809). In addition to a thorough review, this test prep features a diagnostic test and 2 full-length practice test batteries (1 in the book and 1 online at the REA Study Center) that deal with every question type, competency, and skill tested on the exam. REA's online tests run under timed conditions and provide automatic scoring and diagnostic feedback on every question to help teacher candidates zero in on the topics that give them trouble now, so they can succeed on test day. The new 200-question Core Subjects test, one of the largest of its kind in the United States, was first administered in January 2015; it replaced the TExES Generalist 4-8 (111) exam. REA's test prep package includes: - Comprehensive review of all domains and content categories tested on the TExES Core Subjects 4-8 exam - Online diagnostic that pinpoints strengths and weaknesses to help focus study - 2 full-length practice test batteries based on actual exam questions - Practice test answers explained in detail - Proven study tips, strategies, and confidence-boosting advice - Online practice tests feature timed testing, automatic scoring, and topic-level feedback REA's TExES Core Subjects 4-8 (211) is a must-have for anyone who wants to become a middle-school teacher in Texas.