Activities designed to develop logical and mathematical thinking skills of primary school students.

Activities designed to develop logical and mathematical thinking skills of primary school students.

This book emphasises the need for children to explore many experiences in problem solving in order to apply and strengthen their mathematical abilities. It is composed of 29 problems from the "Problem Solvers" column in Teaching Children Mathematics, NCTM's journal for elementary school teachers. The situations offered are intended to engage students in interesting explorations in which they do challenging, interesting problem solving with significant mathematical content. The book also features solutions and children's work that were sent to the editors from children and teachers from around the country.

In today's classrooms, the instructional needs and developmental levels of our students are highly varied, and the conventional math whole-group model has its downsides. In contrast to the rigid, one-size-ts-all approach of conventional whole-group instruction, guided math allows us to structure our math block to support student learning in risk-free, small-group instruction. Guided math goes beyond just reorganizing your math block; it also gives you an opportunity to approach math instruction with a renewed sense of perspective and purpose. Drawing on two decades of experience, Reagan Tunstall oers step-by-step best practices to help educators revolutionize their math blocks with a student-centered approach. Whether you're a new teacher who's curious about guided math or a veteran educator looking to hone your methodology, Guided Math AMPED will transform your math block into an exciting and engaging encounter that encourages your students to see themselves as genuine mathematicians. "Most educators have come to realize that the magic happens at the teacher table or during small-group instruction. If that's the case, Guided Math AMPED is the spell book." -JENNIFER SALYARDS, M.Ed., principal, Chamberlin Elementary, Stephenville ISD "Guided Math AMPED provides educators with a practical framework for enhancing math instruction in a way that provides research-based practices, differentiated instruction, and fun, all while strengthening relationships with students and developing math mindsets. No matter your experience or tenure in education, Guided Math AMPED will give you tips and tricks to implement in your classroom." -MATT BERES, district administrator, Wooster, OH "Guided math is one of the best things you can implement in your classroom, and Reagan Tunstall is the best to learn from, thanks to her perfect framework and step-by-step instructions. She has thought through every potential roadblock and offers concise solutions because she's experienced it all in her own classroom." -HALEE SIKORSKI, educator, A Latte Learning "Don't you dare let another teacher borrow this book . . . you may never get it back! From the rst page to the end, this book is lled with practical ideas and guidelines guaranteed to take your guided math block to the next level." -LORI MCDONALD, M.Ed., retired educator

Did you ever wake up to one of those days where everything is a problem? You have 10 things to do, but only 30 minutes until your bus leaves. Is there enough time? You have 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants. Can you make 1 good outfit? Then you start to wonder: Why does everything have to be such a problem? Why do 2 apples always have to be added to 5 oranges? Why do 4 kids always have to divide 12 marbles? Why can't you just keep 10 cookies without someone taking 3 away? Why? Because you're the victim of a Math Curse. That's why. But don't despair. This is one girl's story of how that curse can be broken.

Are you having trouble in finding Tier II intervention materials for elementary students who are struggling in math? Are you hungry for effective instructional strategies that will address students’ conceptual gap in additive and multiplicative math problem solving? Are you searching for a powerful and generalizable problem solving approach that will help those who are left behind in meeting the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM)? If so, this book is the answer for you. • The conceptual model-based problem solving (COMPS) program emphasizes mathematical modeling and algebraic representation of mathematical relations in equations, which are in line with the new Common Core. • “Through building most fundamental concepts pertinent to additive and multiplicative reasoning and making the connection between concrete and abstract modeling, students were prepared to go above and beyond concrete level of operation and be able to use mathematical models to solve more complex real-world problems. As the connection is made between the concrete model (or students’ existing knowledge scheme) and the symbolic mathematical algorithm, the abstract mathematical models are no longer “alien” to the students.” As Ms. Karen Combs, Director of Elementary Education of Lafayette School Corporation in Indiana, testified: “It really worked with our kids!” • “One hallmark of mathematical understanding is the ability to justify,... why a particular mathematical statement is true or where a mathematical rule comes from” (http://illustrativemathematics.org/standards). Through making connections between mathematical ideas, the COMPS program makes explicit the reasoning behind math, which has the potential to promote a powerful transfer of knowledge by applying the learned conception to solve other problems in new contexts. • Dr. Yan Ping Xin’s book contains essential tools for teachers to help students with learning disabilities or difficulties close the gap in mathematics word problem solving. I have witnessed many struggling students use these strategies to solve word problems and gain confidence as learners of mathematics. This book is a valuable resource for general and special education teachers of mathematics. - Casey Hord, PhD, University of Cincinnati