Math Wonders To Inspire Teachers And Students

Are you "proud" to admit that you never liked math? Were never good in math? Are you struggling to pique your students' interest in math? Are you bored by the routine, mechanical aspects of teaching to the test in mathematics? This book offers a plethora of ideas to enrich your instruction and helps you to explore the intrinsic beauty of math. Through dozens of examples from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and probability, Alfred S. Posamentier reveals the amazing symmetries, patterns, processes, paradoxes, and surprises that await students and teachers who look beyond the rote to discover wonders that have fascinated generations of great thinkers. Using the guided examples, help students explore the many marvels of math, including * The Amazing Number 1,089. Follow the instructions to reverse three-digit numbers, subtract them, and continue until everyone winds up with . . . 1,089! * The Pigeonhole Principle. All students know that guesstimating works sometimes, but now they can use this strategy to solve problems. * The Beautiful Magic Square. Challenge students to create their own magic squares and then discover the properties of Dürer's Magic Square. The author presents examples to entice students (and teachers) to study mathematics--to make mathematics a popular subject, not one to dread or avoid. Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book.

This book argues that even in today's high-stakes testing environment, 'teaching to the test' need not be teachers’ only focus as they introduce young children to mathematics. Judith McVarish demonstrates how building a community of learners and using problem solving to engage students can help teachers encourage students’ disposition to creative thinking and reasoning—skills that can otherwise become lost due to the pressure of the many other expectations placed upon both teachers and students. This book offers strategies for infusing mathematics learning and reasoning into elementary school classrooms while meeting curriculum and testing mandates. The teacher researcher component of each chapter provides a vehicle for teachers to bring their own expertise and questions back into the teaching and learning equation.

Whenever the topic of mathematics is mentioned, people tend to indicate their weakness in the subject as a result of not having enjoyed its instruction during their school experience. Many students unfortunately do not have very positive experiences when learning mathematics, which can result from teachers who have a tendency 'to teach to the test'. This is truly unfortunate for several reasons. First, basic algebra and geometry, which are taken by almost all students, are not difficult subjects, and all students should be able to master them with the proper motivational instruction. Second, we live in a technical age, and being comfortable with basic mathematics can certainly help you deal with life's daily challenges. Other, less tangible reasons, are the pleasure one can experience from understanding the many intricacies of mathematics and its relation to the real world, experiencing the satisfaction of solving a mathematical problem, and discovering the intrinsic beauty and historical development of many mathematical expressions and relationships. These are some of the experiences that this book is designed to deliver to the reader.The book offers 101 mathematical gems, some of which may require a modicum of high school mathematics and others, just a desire to carefully apply oneself to the ideas. Many folks have spent years encountering mathematical terms, symbols, relationships and other esoteric expressions. Their origins and their meanings may never have been revealed, such as the symbols +, -, =, π. ꝏ, √, ∑, and many others. This book provides a delightful insight into the origin of mathematical symbols and popular theorems such as the Pythagorean Theorem and the Fibonacci Sequence, common mathematical mistakes and curiosities, intriguing number relationships, and some of the different mathematical procedures in various countries. The book uses a historical and cultural approach to the topics, which enhances the subject matter and greatly adds to its appeal. The mathematical material can, therefore, be more fully appreciated and understood by anyone who has a curiosity and interest in mathematics, especially if in their past experience they were expected to simply accept ideas and concepts without a clear understanding of their origins and meaning. It is hoped that this will cast a new and positive picture of mathematics and provide a more favorable impression of this most important subject and be a different experience than what many may have previously encountered. It is also our wish that some of the fascination and beauty of mathematics shines through in these presentations.

The primary aim of this book is to provide teachers of mathematics with all the tools they would need to conduct most effective mathematics instruction. The book guides teachers through the all-important planning process, which includes short and long-term planning as well as constructing most effective lessons, with an emphasis on motivation, classroom management, emphasizing problem-solving techniques, assessment, enriching instruction for students at all levels, and introducing relevant extracurricular mathematics activities. Technology applications are woven throughout the text.A unique feature of this book is the second half, which provides 125 highly motivating enrichment units for all levels of secondary school mathematics. Many years of proven success makes this book essential for both pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers.

“Highly accessible and enjoyable for readers who love and loathe math.” —Booklist A critical read for teachers and parents who want to improve children’s mathematics learning, What’s Math Got to Do with It? is “an inspiring resource” (Publishers Weekly). Featuring all the important advice and suggestions in the original edition of What’s Math Got to Do with It?, this revised edition is now updated with new research on the brain and mathematics that is revolutionizing scientists’ understanding of learning and potential. As always Jo Boaler presents research findings through practical ideas that can be used in classrooms and homes. The new What’s Math Got to Do with It? prepares teachers and parents for the Common Core, shares Boaler’s work on ways to teach mathematics for a “growth mindset,” and includes a range of advice to inspire teachers and parents to give their students the best mathematical experience possible.

In Growing up with Tanzania. Karim Hirji, a renowned Professor of Medical Statistics and Fellow of the Tanzania Academy of Science, presents a multi-faceted, evocative portrait of his joyous but conflicted passage to adulthood during colonial and early-Uhuru Tanzania. His smooth style engages the reader with absorbing true tales, cultural currents, critical commentary and progressive possibilities. By vibrantly contrasting the hope-filled sixties with the cynical modern era, he also lays bare the paradoxes of personal life and society, past and present.

Innovative Teaching: Best Practices from Business and Beyond for Mathematics Teachers provides educators with new and exciting ways to introduce material and methods to motivate and engage students by showing how some of the techniques commonly used in the business world — and beyond — are applicable to the world of education. It also offers educators practical advice with regard to the changing culture of education, keeping up with technology, navigating politics at work, interacting with colleagues, developing leadership skills, group behavior, and gender differences.Innovative Teaching demonstrates how the classroom environment is similar to the marketplace. Educators, like businesses, for example, must capture and hold the attention of their audience while competing with a constant stream of 'noise.' With the introduction of the Internet and the wide use of social media, promoters understand that they must not only engage their audience, but also incorporate audience feedback into the promotional work and product or service they offer. Innovative Teaching shows educators how to take the best practices from business — and beyond — and recombine these resources for appropriate use in the classroom.