The Elementary Mathematics Specialists Handbook

An influential new member joins the elementary school team... Placing mathematics specialists in elementary schools is a recent development that is gaining momentum as schools move to more rigorous standards, including the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Working with teachers to improve schoolwide mathematics performance, the mathematics specialist is unique among the specialists at elementary schools today. In this handbook Vignettes flesh out the elementary mathematics specialist s many responsibilities. Experienced specialists offer tips on gaining teachers trust and access to their classrooms. Special guidance highlights effective collaboration between the principal and the specialist. The transition from classroom teacher to elementary mathematics specialist is challenging, but the principal can smooth the specialist s path by reassuring teachers that the new specialist is there to support them, not judge them. In the authors words, The mathematics specialist, when introduced to the faculty in the right way, becomes a soft place where the teacher can fall.

Patricia F. Campbell, Aimee J. Ellington, William E. Haver, and Vickie L. Inge have collaborated extensively on research on school mathematics specialists with support from the National Science Foundation through grants awarded to Virginia Commonwealth University in partnership with the University of Virginia, Norfolk State University, Longwood University, the University of Maryland, and the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition.