Making Sense of Mathematics for Teaching Grades K-2 : (Communicate the Context Behind High-Cognitive-Demand Tasks for Purposeful, Productive Learning)

Develop a deep understanding of mathematics. This user-friendly resource presents grades K-2 teachers with a logical progression of pedagogical actions, classroom norms, and collaborative teacher team efforts to increase their knowledge and improve mathematics instruction. Explore strategies and techniques to effectively learn and teach significant mathematics concepts and provide all students with the precise, accurate information they need to achieve academic success. Clarify math essentials with figures and tables that facilitate understanding through visualization.

Benefits:

• Dig deep into mathematical modeling and reasoning to improve as both a learner and teacher of mathematics.
• Explore how to develop, select, and modify mathematics tasks in order to balance cognitive demand and engage students.
• Discover the three important norms to uphold in all mathematics classrooms.
• Learn to apply the tasks, questioning, and evidence (TQE) process to grow as both learners and teachers of mathematics.
• Use charts and diagrams for classifying shapes, which can engage students in important mathematical practices.
• Access short videos that show what classrooms that are developing mathematical understanding should look like.

Contents:
Introduction
1. Number Concepts and Place Value
2. Word Problem Structures
3. Addition and Subtraction Using Counting Strategies
4. Addition and Subtraction Using Grouping Strategies
5. Geometry
6. Measurement
Epilogue: Next Steps
Appendix A: Completed Classification of Triangles Chart
Appendix B: Completed Diagram for Classifying Quadrilaterals

Juli K. Dixon, PhD, is a professor of mathematics education at the University of Central Florida. An active researcher, she has also taught mathematics at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels.

Edward C. Nolan is preK-12 director of mathematics for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. He has 19 years of classroom experience in both middle and high schools and was department chair for 15 years.

Thomasenia Lott Adams, PhD, a professor of mathematics education, is associate dean for research and faculty development in the College of Education at the University of Florida.

Lisa Brooks, EdD, is a lecturer at the University of Central Florida teaching general methods, mathematics methods, and science methods classes. She has a background in elementary education.

Tashana Howse, PhD, is an assistant professor of mathematics education at Daytona State College, where she teaches mathematics and science methods courses for elementary and secondary education majors.