Teaching Mathematical Reasoning In Secondary School Classrooms

For too many students, mathematics consists of facts in a vacuum, to be memorized because the instructor says so, and to be forgotten when the course of study is completed. In this all-too-common scenario, young learners often miss the chance to develop skills—specifically, reasoning skills—that can serve them for a lifetime. The elegant pages of Teaching Mathematical Reasoning in Secondary School Classrooms propose a more positive solution by presenting a reasoning- and discussion-based approach to teaching mathematics, emphasizing the connections between ideas, or why math works. The teachers whose work forms the basis of the book create a powerful record of methods, interactions, and decisions (including dealing with challenges and impasses) involving this elusive topic. And because this approach shifts the locus of authority from the instructor to mathematics itself, students gain a system of knowledge that they can apply not only to discrete tasks relating to numbers, but also to the larger world of people and the humanities. A sampling of the topics covered: Whole-class discussion methods for teaching mathematics reasoning. Learning mathematical reasoning through tasks. Teaching mathematics using the five strands. Classroom strategies for promoting mathematical reasoning. Maximizing student contributions in the classroom. Overcoming student resistance to mathematical conversations. Teaching Mathematical Reasoning in Secondary School Classrooms makes a wealth of cutting-edge strategies available to mathematics teachers and teacher educators. This book is an invaluable resource for researchers in mathematics and curriculum reform and of great interest to teacher educators and teachers.

A thinking student is an engaged student Teachers often find it difficult to implement lessons that help students go beyond rote memorization and repetitive calculations. In fact, institutional norms and habits that permeate all classrooms can actually be enabling "non-thinking" student behavior. Sparked by observing teachers struggle to implement rich mathematics tasks to engage students in deep thinking, Peter Liljedahl has translated his 15 years of research into this practical guide on how to move toward a thinking classroom. Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K–12 helps teachers implement 14 optimal practices for thinking that create an ideal setting for deep mathematics learning to occur. This guide Provides the what, why, and how of each practice and answers teachers’ most frequently asked questions Includes firsthand accounts of how these practices foster thinking through teacher and student interviews and student work samples Offers a plethora of macro moves, micro moves, and rich tasks to get started Organizes the 14 practices into four toolkits that can be implemented in order and built on throughout the year When combined, these unique research-based practices create the optimal conditions for learner-centered, student-owned deep mathematical thinking and learning, and have the power to transform mathematics classrooms like never before.

This volume brings together recent research and commentary in secondary school mathematics from a breadth of contemporary Canadian and International researchers and educators. It is both representative of mathematics education generally, as well as unique to the particular geography and culture of Canada. The chapters address topics of broad applicability such as technology in learning mathematics, recent interest in social justice contexts in the learning of mathematics, as well as Indigenous education. The voices of classroom practitioners, the group ultimately responsible for implementing this new vision of mathematics teaching and learning, are not forgotten. Each section includes a chapter written by a classroom teacher, making this volume unique in its approach. We have much to learn from one another, and this volume takes the stance that the development of a united vision, supported by both research and professional dialog, provides the first step.

This fourth volume in the series of yearbooks by the Association of Mathematics Educators in Singapore entitled Reasoning, Communication and Connections in Mathematics is unique in that it focuses on a single theme in mathematics education. The objective is to encourage teachers and researchers to advance reasoning, communication and connections in mathematics classrooms. Several renowned international researchers in the field have published their work in this volume. The fifteen chapters of the book illustrate evidence-based practices that school teachers and researchers can experiment with in their own classrooms to bring about meaningful learning outcomes. Three major themes: mathematical tasks, classroom discourse, and connectivity within and beyond mathematics, shape the ideas underpinning reasoning, communication and connections in these chapters. The book makes a significant contribution towards mathematical processes essential for learners of mathematics. It is a good resource for mathematics educators and research students.

Offers straightforward advice, inspiration and support for mathematics teachers whether in training or newly qualified. Based on the best research and practice available, it offers a wide range of tried and tested approaches that succeed in secondary classrooms.

Long/DeTemple/Millman's Mathematical Reasoning for Elementary Teachers presents the mathematical content needed for teaching within the context of the elementary classroom, giving future teachers the motivation they need while also showing them the bigger picture of when they will use and teach the concepts. The program also endeavors to answer the frequently-asked Why are we learning this? by going beyond skill explanations and showing the ways that these concepts are implemented in the future classroom and what types of questions children may ask. Now updated to include the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, the text imparts mathematical reasoning skills, a deep conceptual understanding, and a positive attitude to those who aspire to be elementary or middle school teachers. Teaching and Learning Experience This program will provide a better teaching and learning experience-for you and your students. Here's how: *Personalized learning with MyMathLab: MyMathLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed and provides engaging experiences that personalize learning.*Features for the future classroom demonstrate the relevance of the concepts students are learning, the ways in which the mathematical concepts will be employed in the classroom, provide perspective on the importance of learning the material, and engage students to learn by doing. *Strong pedagogical tools help students to understand and retain the essential principals.

Sharpen concrete teaching strategies that empower students to reason-and-prove How do teachers and students benefit from engaging in reasoning-and-proving? What strategies can teachers use to support students’ capacity to reason-and-prove? What does reasoning-and-proving instruction look like? We Reason & We Prove for ALL Mathematics helps mathematics teachers in grades 6-12 engage in the critical practice of reasoning-and-proving and support the development of reasoning-and-proving in their students. The phrase "reasoning-and-proving" describes the processes of identifying patterns, making conjectures, and providing arguments that may or may not qualify as proofs – processes that reflect the work of mathematicians. Going beyond the idea of "formal proof" traditionally relegated only to geometry, this book transcends all mathematical content areas with a variety of activities for teachers to learn more about reasoning-and-proving and about how to support students’ capacities to engage in this mathematical thinking through: Solving and discussing high-level mathematical tasks Analyzing narrative cases that make the relationship between teaching and learning salient Examining and interpreting student work that features a range of solution strategies, representations, and misconceptions Modifying tasks from curriculum materials so that they better support students to reason-and-prove Evaluating learning environments and making connections between key ideas about reasoning-and-proving and teaching strategies We Reason & We Prove for ALL Mathematics is designed as a learning tool for practicing and pre-service mathematics teachers and can be used individually or in a group. No other book tackles reasoning-and-proving with such breadth, depth, and practical applicability. Classroom examples, case studies, and sample problems help to sharpen concrete teaching strategies that empower students to reason-and-prove!

What knowledge of mathematics do secondary school math teachers need to facilitate understanding, competency, and interest in mathematics for all of their students? This unique text and resource bridges the gap between the mathematics learned in college and the mathematics taught in secondary schools. Written in an informal, clear, and interactive learner-centered style, it is designed to help pre-service and in-service teachers gain the deep mathematical insight they need to engage their students in learning mathematics in a multifaceted way that is interesting, developmental, connected, deep, understandable, and often, surprising and entertaining. Features include Launch questions at the beginning of each section, Student Learning Opportunities, Questions from the Classroom, and highlighted themes throughout to aid readers in becoming teachers who have great "MATH-N-SIGHT": M Multiple Approaches/Representations A Applications to Real Life T Technology H History N Nature of Mathematics: Reasoning and Proof S Solving Problems I Interlinking Concepts: Connections G Grade Levels H Honing of Mathematical Skills T Typical Errors This text is aligned with the recently released Common Core State Standards, and is ideally suited for a capstone mathematics course in a secondary mathematics certification program. It is also appropriate for any methods or mathematics course for pre- or in-service secondary mathematics teachers, and is a valuable resource for classroom teachers.