The Classroom Chef: Sharpen Your Lessons, Season Your Classes, Make Math Meaningful

"I just don't get math." If you're a math teacher, you probably can't count the number of times you've heard students, parents, and even fellow teachers make a disparaging statement about your subject. As math teachers and instructional coaches, John Stevens and Matt Vaudrey know how discouraging it feels to look out into a classroom full of disinterested and confused students. But they also know how amazing it feels to see comprehension dawn in their students' eyes - when a concept suddenly makes sense and math becomes meaningful. In The Classroom Chef, John and Matt share their secret recipes, ingredients, and tips for serving up lessons that engage students and help them "get" math. You can use these ideas and methods as-is, or better yet, tweak them and create your own enticing educational meals. The message the authors want to convey is that, with imagination and preparation, every teacher can be a Classroom Chef. Far from bland or boring, the lessons and ideas in The Classroom Chef spark curiosity-and occasionally bewilderment and awe (yes, in math class). After all, mullets, ziplines, and sharks aren't standard topics for typical math classes. But maybe they should be.

"John and Matt have served up a well-balanced meal for beginning and seasoned teachers alike. From appetizers to entrees and side dishes to desserts, teachers will find practical planning-a-lesson strategies and resources (mostly free!) to spice up the math contents that will increase student engagement and curiosity. Written with candor and humor, Matt and John share their cringe-worthy lesson failures and heart-warming anecdotes that we all can identify with. But through a lot of hard work and the willingness to take risks, they found success in making learning math meaningful for their students. They show us how to begin with small steps in transforming our classroom but remind us it's okay to not always get it right the first time or the third time."
Fawn Nguyen, Math Teacher 

"Matt Vaudrey and John Stevens are the exact template for an ideal modern educator. They combine classic educator skills, like being content experts and masterful leading of students with a world class set of technology skills that include a dizzying array of online tools and apps. They both add a social media skillset that is world class, working with thousands of educators via social media. The Classroom Chef is an inspiring and enlightening extension of their amazing speaking presentations. I have seen entire rooms of teachers absolutely floored by Matt and John in their element,  and this book features all the best parts of their hearts and souls. It's a great read."
Jon Corippo, CUE Director of Academic Innovation

"John and Matt have created tasty recipes for any teacher to cook up in their math class."
Andrew Stadel, Math Instructional Coach

"Matt and John have compiled an inspiring and authentic account of the struggles that helped them learn how to make math class exciting.  They share both general strategies and specific ideas you can immediately implement with your students to make measurable growth."
Robert Kaplinsky, Math Teacher Specialist

"To put it quite simply, Matt Vaudrey and John Stevens have the power to change the world. I believe so strongly in both the content and format that Matt and John deliver that I would put it this way: if you can only have one day of professional learning brought to your school or district, you need to look no further. The same is true for Classroom Chef. Without a doubt, your school needs to read this book. As an elementary principal, I see the strategies presented by Matt and John making a difference for kids in every classroom in our school."
Jennifer Kloczko, Star Academy Coordinator