Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Secondary Math: Five to Thrive

Description

Let’s face it, teaching secondary math can be hard. So much about how we teach math today may look and feel different from how we learned it. Teaching math in a student-centered way changes the role of the teacher from one who traditionally "delivers knowledge" to one who fosters thinking. Most importantly, we must ensure our practice gives each and every student the opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve at high levels, while providing opportunities to develop their agency and authority in the classroom which results in a positive math identity. Whether you are a brand new teacher or a veteran, if you find teaching math to be quite the challenge, this is the guide you want by your side. Designed for just-in-time learning and support, this practical resource gives you brief, actionable answers to your most pressing questions about teaching secondary math. Written by four experienced math educators representing diverse experiences, these authors offer the practical advice they wish they received years ago, from lessons they′ve learned over decades of practice, research, coaching, and through collaborating with teams, teachers and colleagues―especially new teachers―every day. Questions and answers are organized into five areas of effort that will help you most thrive in your secondary math classroom:  How do I build a positive math community?How do I structure, organize, and manage my math class?How do I engage my students in math?How do I help my students talk about math?How do I know what my students know and move them forward? Woven throughout, you′ll find helpful sidebar notes on fostering identity and agency; access and equity; teaching in different settings; and invaluable resources for deeper learning. The final question―Where do I go from here?― offers guidance for growing your practice over time. Strive to become the best math educator you can be; your students are counting on it!  What will be your first step on the journey? Cover Contents Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction 1 How Do I Build a Math Community? What Is Equity in Mathematics? How Do I Build and Sustain a Positive Mathematical Community in My Classroom? What Norms Should I Have in My Classroom? How Can My Words and Actions Focus on Students’ Strengths? How Do I Learn About My Students’ Math Identities? How Do I Support Student Agency in My Classroom? How Can I Make Math Class More Student-Centered and Culturally Relevant? How Do I Establish Two-Way Communication With Caregivers? 2 How Do I Structure, Organize, and Manage My Math Class? What Do I Do at the Start of the School Year? What Are the Process Standards, and How Do I Use Them? What Is a Learning Goal, and How Do I Write One? How Do I Plan a Unit? What Makes a Good Lesson Plan? What Are Mathematical Teaching Routines, and How Do I Use Them? What Are the Ways in Which I Can Group Students? How Should My Classroom Be Organized to Maximize Student Learning? What Is the Role of Practice and Homework? 3 How Do I Engage My Students in Math? How Do I Select a Worthwhile Task? How Do I Teach Problem Solving? How Do I Support My Students in Becoming Critical Thinkers? How Do I Promote and Support Productive Struggle? How Do I Use Technology? How Do I Provide Differentiation for Students on the Continuum of Prior Knowledge? How Do I Support Students With Different Learning Preferences and Needs? How Do I Support Emergent Multilinguals? How Do I Help Cultivate a Sense of Wonder, Joy, and Beauty of Mathematics? 4 How Do I Help My Students Talk About Math and Share Their Mathematical Thinking? How Do I Anticipate What Students Will Do? How Do I Prepare for Classroom Discourse? How Do I Plan the Questions I Will Ask? How Do I Facilitate Group Work? How Do I Use Multiple Representations to Support Understanding? How Do I Use Manipulatives in My Class? What Is the Role of Procedural Fluency in My Classroom? 5 How Do I Know What My Students Know, and How Can I Use That Information to Plan and Move Forward? How Can I Use Information From Formative and Summative Assessments? How Do I Support My Students With Feedback? How Do I Analyze Classroom Data? What Is the Role of Notes? 6 Where Do I Go From Here? What Activities Can I Pursue to Learn and Grow? How Can I Reflect on My Teaching? What Resources Should I Use to Learn and Grow? References Index