Fragments to Mosaic: The Art of Teaching Math to Shape Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

"Fragments to Mosaic" is a book for everyone interested in education especially math education. The principles described and explained are transferable to other subjects. Many people suffer from fragmented understanding. They often fail to clearly see the big picture. Here, students, teachers, parents, and school administrators can find hope, encouragement and direction. Many thought provoking cartoon illustrations make the message more appealing and understandable than the average book on pedagogy. The book provides the Why, What, and How of a method of teaching that begins with student perceptions, emphasizes conceptual connections, and develops holistic understanding while fostering critical thinking and problem solving skills. Care has been given to point out key differences between this method and more common methods of teaching. Readers will discover how more can be learned better in less time when teachers study, learn, and practice this "art."

Don C. White is a native of Harlan, Kentucky. He received his BS degree in Mathematics from Georgetown College and his masters in mathematics from the University of Tennessee. After owning a data processing company for over thirty years, Don taught high school level mathematics for seventeen years. He is currently “retired” and spends his time educating teachers through professional-development seminars as well as enriching students one-on-one through ACT prep, GRE prep, tutoring, and math consultation. His hobbies include teaching, sports, jazz, chorale, classical music, and singing. With Lynn, his wife of twenty-nine years, Don resides in London, Kentucky. He has two sons, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. His passion is to help others see math clearly and to start a learning revolution. John C. Lowder Jr. was raised on a small farm in Southern Ohio, attended Calvary Chapel Bible School in Twin Peaks, California, and received his BA in mathematics from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. After college, John married Julie Casada and began work as a computer professional with Ashland Inc. in Lexington, Kentucky. After fourteen years, John gave up his systems engineer position to join American Missionary Fellowship as a faith-supported missionary-serving in Southeastern Kentucky. John is the founding president of KRTBEA Inc. (aka BREAK-Bible Release-Time Education Association of Kentucky) and invests most of his time teaching the Bible to elementary schoolchildren via Bible Release classes. John and Julie live near Corbin, Kentucky, where they raised their three children-Sarah, John, and Rachel. This is his first book.