This book is designed for elementary and middle school mathematics methods courses and for K-8 mathematics teacher professional development programs. It describes a new cognitive mathematics teaching and learning method: Model-Strategy-Application (MSA) approach. The aim of this book is to help pre-service and in-service teachers develop deep pedagogical content knowledge in a structured and systematic manner and supports them in teaching mathematics and assessing student thinking effectively. The book focuses on developing students' mathematics proficiency in the three components of conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and competence in word problem solving through the MSA approach in every content area. To help students learn a mathematics concept with deep understanding, a variety of concrete or visual models are developed to address the mathematics concept; to build fluency in procedure and computation corresponding to the concept, various computational strategies including basic and specific techniques are developed; to learn how to apply the conceptual understanding and strategies to word problem solving, applications of different types and levels of word problems are introduced.

Blended learning has gained significant attention recently by educational leaders, practitioners, and researchers. i²Flex, a variation of blended learning, is based on the premise that certain non-interactive teaching activities, such as lecturing, can take place by students without teachers’ direct involvement. Classroom time can then be used for educational activities that fully exploit teacher-student and student-student interactions, allowing for meaningful personalized feedback and scaffolding on demand. Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through the i²Flex Classroom Model presents a well-rounded discussion on the i²Flex model, highlighting methods for K-12 course design, delivery, and evaluation in addition to teacher performance assessment in a blended i²Flex environment. Emphasizing new methods for improving the classroom and learning experience in addition to preparing students for higher education and careers, this publication is an essential reference source for pre-service and in-service teachers, researchers, administrators, and educational technology developers.

"This book is centered on the mathematical content of prekindergarten through grade 8. It addresses almost all of the K-8 CCSSM Standards for Mathematical Content from a teacher's perspective, with a focus on how ideas develop and connect and on powerful ways of representing and reasoning about the ideas"--

The goal of Visualizing Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Methods is to teach mathematics in a way that excites and motivates readers, with an accessible format that serves as an introduction to the teaching of mathematics. This text, in partnership with National Geographic, is designed to present mathematics content and pedagogy in a fresh new way. This unique approach, while maintaining necessary rigor, provides the opportunity to set aside previous beliefs about mathematics and to learn concepts and pedagogy from a new perspective. The structure of Visualizing Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Methods is similar to the format of other methods texts, however, it has many unique features that are designed to be engaging and make the text relevant for readers. It begins with a brief summary of the history of mathematics. Diversity is integrated into the content of every chapter, through Multicultural Perspectives in Mathematics. Several chapters include Virtual Classroom Observation Videos.

This book brings together scholars working in the field of mathematics education to examine the ways in which learners form particular relationships with mathematics in the context of formal schooling. While demand for the mathematically literate citizen increases, many learners continue to reject mathematics and experience it as excluding and exclusive, even when they succeed at it. In exploring this phenomenon, this volume focuses on learners' developing sense of self and their understanding of the part played by mathematics in it. It recognizes the part played by emotional responses, the functioning of classroom communities of practice, and by discourses of mathematics education in this process. It thus blends perspectives from psychoanalysis, socio-cultural theory and discursive approaches in a focus on the classic issues of selection and assessment, pedagogy, curriculum, choice, and teacher development.

This book is an amazing resource for teachers who are struggling to help students develop both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding.. --Dr. Margaret (Peg) Smith, co-author of5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematical Discussions Robert Kaplinsky, the co-creator of Open Middle math problems, brings hisnew class of tasks designed to stimulate deeper thinking and lively discussion among middle and high school students in Open Middle Math: Problems That Unlock Student Thinking, Grades 6-12. The problems are characterized by a closed beginning,- meaning all students start with the same initial problem, and a closed end,- meaning there is only one correct or optimal answer. The key is that the middle is open- in the sense that there are multiple ways to approach and ultimately solve the problem. These tasks have proven enormously popular with teachers looking to assess and deepen student understanding, build student stamina, and energize their classrooms. Professional Learning Resource for Teachers: Open Middle Math is an indispensable resource for educators interested in teaching student-centered mathematics in middle and high schools consistent with the national and state standards. Sample Problems at Each Grade: The book demonstrates the Open Middle concept with sample problems ranging from dividing fractions at 6th grade to algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Teaching Tips for Student-Centered Math Classrooms: Kaplinsky shares guidance on choosing problems, designing your own math problems, and teaching for multiple purposes, including formative assessment, identifying misconceptions, procedural fluency, and conceptual understanding. Adaptable and Accessible Math: The tasks can be solved using various strategies at different levels of sophistication, which means all students can access the problems and participate in the conversation. Open Middle Math will help math teachers transform the 6th -12th grade classroom into an environment focused on problem solving, student dialogue, and critical thinking.