Smart Moves: Developing Mathematical Reasoning with Games and Puzzles - Softcover

Serra, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0983409900 ISBN 13: 9780983409908

Publisher: Playing It Smart, 2011

Synopsis

Smart Moves: Developing Mathematical Reasoning with Games and Puzzles can be used as part of a school mathematics curriculum or as extra curricular activities for students. The puzzles make excellent classroom openers, end-of-period thought provokers, or for students to work on during school breaks. Using the puzzle solving tips and Mathematical Connections will engage the students in problem solving, help them discover strategies, and encourage mathematical thinking.

Smart Moves has over 330 games and puzzles (black and white text ) which focus on Sequential Reasoning. For easy use, the book is printed in a lay-flat 8.5" x 11" format. Contact the author directly to purchase electronic file of color pdf worksheets for classroom use. Author: Michael Serra, Pages: 210, paperback, Publisher: Playing It Smart, ISBN: 978-0983409908

About this title

About the Author

Michael Serra has taught mathematics in San Francisco public schools for over forty years. Michael continues to serve as a master teacher and mentor to other teachers. He officially retired from teaching high school in 2001 and now does professional development workshops with school districts and math conferences throughout the world. He currently volunteers at an elementary school. Michael often says working with the fifth grade class is the "highlight of his week."

During his teaching career Michael wrote his own curriculum to teach geometry using familiar objects like patty paper, tennis ball cans, and string. This classroom material eventually became the innovative textbook "Discovering Geometry".

In addition to "Discovering Geometry", he has published "Patty Paper Geometry", the "Mathercise Series", "What's Wrong with This Picture?", and "Smart Moves". He also writes for various math newsletters and makes videos about teaching math. michaelserra.net

Michael enjoys interior design and hosting backgammon chouette parties. He can be found playing disc golf at Golden Gate park when he is not traveling.

"Michael Serra knows how to elicit student feedback, refocus it, and send it back to the student, all packaged inside an intriguing question or challenge. You have to watch his highlight reel in slow motion to see how he does it. He's that skilled and his process is that subtle." - Dan Meyer, dy/dan

From the Back Cover

Whether you are nine or ninety, in the classroom or at home, I invite you to make a smart move and discover how much fun math can be!

Smart Moves: Developing Mathematical Reasoning with Games and Puzzles is designed to improve your sequential reasoning, explore some mathematics, and have fun along the way. The games and puzzles were created to encourage perseverance and logical thinking. The Mathematical Connections highlight key math concepts. The Game of Racetrack is the perfect introduction to vectors, Tour Puzzles lead to graph theory and Euler paths, and the mathematics behind Magic Squares is revealed.

Smart Moves is a very effective way to support mathematical learning and reduce the anxiety that often accompanies the subject. Each chapter is designed to strengthen sequential reasoning, which is necessary for everyday living and problem solving.

Edition details

• Publisher: Playing It Smart
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0983409900
• ISBN 13: 9780983409908
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 210