Understanding And Enriching Problem Solving In Primary Mathematics

This up to date book is essential reading for all those teaching or training to teach primary mathematics. Problem solving is a key aspect of teaching and learning mathematics, but also an area where teachers and pupils often struggle. Set within the context of the new primary curriculum and drawing on research and practice, the book identifies the key knowledge and skills required in teaching and learning problem solving in mathematics, and examines how these and can be applied in the classroom. It explores the issues in depth while remaining straightforward and relevant, emphasises the enrichment of maths through problem-solving, and provides opportunities for teachers to reflect on and further develop their classroom practice.

The UK National Curriculum is clear about the importance of reasoning and problem-solving in mathematics. Mastery and Depth in Primary Mathematics aims to support trainee and established teachers to embed mathematical thinking into their lessons. The authors focus on practical and actionable ways that primary teachers can develop their children’s mathematical thinking, reasoning and problem-solving: ideas which are at the heart of the UK National Curriculum. Covering a range of areas in mathematical thinking such as reasoning, problem-solving and pattern-spotting, as well as systematic and investigative thinking, each chapter provides clear examples of how teachers can make small, manageable ‘rich tweaks’ to their existing lessons to increase the opportunities for children to develop their mathematical thinking. Teachers will be able to dip into the book and find inspiration and ideas that they can use immediately and, importantly, develop a set of principles and skills which will enable them to take any mathematical activity and tweak it to develop their pupils’ thinking skills. This practical guide will be invaluable to all trainee teachers and early-career teachers that wish to enhance their primary mathematics teaching.

How do I enrich children′s learning of primary mathematics to bring the subject to life? This book inspires and supports you, the new and beginning teacher, to use talk-rich and open tasks that bring mathematics to life in your classroom. Tried and loved practical tasks that engage and motivate Supports you to create confident and resilient mathematicians in your classroom Explores ways to engage children in mathematics across the primary curriculum Focuses on understanding key mathematical concepts and the connections between them

Problem Solving in Primary Mathematics is an essential text designed to support new and experienced teachers in guiding pupils through mathematical investigations and problem solving, offering a framework that children themselves can begin to adopt as they progress to greater metacognitive awareness. Underpinned by the latest international research and theory, it examines how individual pupils think and act differently and offers guidance on how to promote independence and autonomy in the classroom. It examines key topics such as: Preparing for mathematical learning Designing learning material Assessing and evaluating learning Identifying key points for intervention What to do when learning is stalled Critical numeracy for real-world problem solving Mental Model Theory and the Mental Model Mode Different approaches to problem solving and investigating Aimed at new and experienced educators, particularly those with a maths specialism, and illustrated with investigations and activities, Problem Solving in Primary Mathematics demonstrates how frameworks can be used in key mathematical areas and assists students in progressing towards more meaningful problem solving.

"One feature of this book that sets it apart from others is the care that is taken to clarify the authors’ interpretation of the phrase 'teaching for understanding'. Each component of this interpretation – connections, representations, reasoning, communication and misconceptions – is then successfully incorporated as a theme in the subsequent chapters that develop important mathematical topics." Ian Thompson, Visiting Professor at Edge Hill University and Northumbria University, UK This important book aims to support and develop teachers' understanding of the key primary mathematics topics. It takes an innovative approach by defining exactly what is meant by 'understanding' and uses this model to examine and explain various mathematical topics. The authors emphasize the importance of the different representations that can be used for mathematical concepts and inform the reasoning process. By focusing on understanding, the book also draws attention to common misconceptions that teachers may encounter in the classroom. Key features: Specific focus on 'understanding' to offer new insights in to how to teach the topics Case studies to demonstrate how to communicate mathematical topics in the classroom End of chapter questions to stimulate discussion The authors integrate research and theory throughout, to highlight core issues. This theoretical background is also linked directly to classroom practice and informs suggestions for how topics can be communicated in the classroom. This offers valuable guidance to trainee teachers on how to teach the topics and presents experienced teachers with the opportunity to develop their subject and pedagogical knowledge.

The mathematics education community continues to contribute research-based ideas for developing and improving problem posing as an inquiry-based instructional strategy for enhancing students’ learning. A large number of studies have been conducted which have covered many research topics and methodological aspects of teaching and learning mathematics through problem posing. The Authors' groundwork has shown that many of these studies predict positive outcomes from implementing problem posing on: student knowledge, problem solving and posing skills, creativity and disposition toward mathematics. This book examines, in-depth, the contribution of a problem posing approach to teaching mathematics and discusses the impact of adopting this approach on the development of theoretical frameworks, teaching practices and research on mathematical problem posing over the last 50 years. ​​

Problem-solving skills are critical to students' success in mathematics, but the techniques can't be caught; they must be taught. Based on the premise that educators must take a deliberate approach to the teaching of problem-solving skills, this book helps teachers engage students in the process. Problem Solving in Mathematics, Grades 3-6 presents nine strategies that students can use to solve problems, such as working backwards, finding a pattern, making a drawing, or solving a simpler equivalent problem. Each chapter demonstrates how teachers can Use the strategies with students at different grade levels Incorporate these strategies into a mathematics program Apply each strategy to real-life situations Make each strategy an integral part of students' thinking processes With helpful teaching notes, sample problems for students that fit into any mathematics curriculum, and step-by-step solutions to sample problems, this book is perfect for teachers who want their students to succeed in mathematics! Book jacket.

In this textbook, the foundations of mathematics are made explicit and the reader is guided through the background knowledge and understanding that are required for the subject, offering a well-structured overview of the important issues to be considered when learning about mathematics on a Primary QTS course, and a coherent approach to the content to be found in the standards for QTS, the National Curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2 and the numeracy strategy. The authors aim to help teachers review and restructure the understanding of mathematics gained during their education, progressing from partial memories of a few process to an understanding of why the skills they were taught make sense and how they fit into a coherent mathematics curriculum, arguing that to teach mathematics effectively it is not enough to be able to do the mathematics, you need to understand why you do what you do. Aimed at all teachers of primary mathematics, this book is also likely to be valuable to secondary teachers, parents, administrators and others interested in the foundations of school mathematics. Written for trainee and practicing teachers, this book de-mystifies the primary mathematics UK curriculum and offers a valuable reference for effective mathematicss teaching.