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

Your guide to grow and learn as a math teacher!

Let’s face it, teaching elementary math can be hard. So much about how we teach math today may look and feel different from how we learned it. Today, we recognize placing the student at the center of their learning increases engagement, motivation, and academic achievement soars. 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 elementary 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 elementary math classroom:  
1. How do I build a positive math community?
2. How do I structure, organize, and manage my math class?
3. How do I engage my students in math?
4. How do I help my students talk about math?
5. 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?

John J. SanGiovanni is a mathematics coordinator in Howard County, Maryland. There, he leads mathematics curriculum development, digital learning, assessment, and professional development. John is passionate about growing new mathematics leaders in the district and through McDaniel College. In addition to the Figuring Out Fluency series, some of his many Corwin books include Daily Routines to Jump-Start Problem Solving, Grades K–8; Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math; the Daily Routines to Jump-Start Math series; and Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for Fostering Perseverance. John is a national mathematics curriculum and professional learning consultant who also speaks frequently at national conferences and institutes. He is active in state and national professional organizations, recently serving on the board of directors for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and on the board of directors for NCSM.

Susie Katt is the K-2 Mathematics Coordinator in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she leads professional learning, assessment, and math curriculum development. She is an author of Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for Fostering Perseverance and Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math. She is also a national math curriculum consultant. Susie speaks at state, regional, and national conferences. She served the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) as the chair of the editorial panel for the journal Teaching Children Mathematics, as department editor for Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK–12, and as a member of program committees for annual meetings and regional conferences. Susie was recently elected to the board of directors for the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) as Regional Director, Central 2.

Latrenda Knighten is President (2024 - 2026) of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and a retired Mathematics Supervisor from Baton Rouge, LA. She has been an educator for more than 30 years during which she has been a classroom teacher, science specialist, mathematics coach, instructional coach, and a mathematics content provider. An active member of many professional organizations, Latrenda is a past member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, and the Benjamin Banneker Association  Board of Directors. She is also the co-author of two books: Classroom-Ready Rich Math Tasks, Grades K - 1 and Five to Thrive: Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math, K-5. 

Georgina Rivera is a passionate math educator, coach, author, and presenter focused on equity, collective teacher efficacy, culturally relevant pedagogy, and teacher leadership. She currently serves as a school administrator for Bristol Public Schools. Prior to this position, she was the district’s math coach and elementary STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) supervisor; she began her career as a middle school math teacher. Georgina serves on various local and national boards focused on math education and leadership. She began her new role as NCSM vice president in September 2021.