Math Tools, Grades 3-12: 64 Ways to Differentiate Instruction and Increase Student Engagement

"A valuable resource to help teachers differentiate instruction according to student learning styles. The learning matrices provide a user-friendly reference tool for designing lessons."
―Gwen Zimmermann, Director of Mathematics
Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL

"The authors have once again taken research and translated it into practical applications. This resource will enhance every math educator′s classroom and increase student learning."
―Laura Palka, Principal
Edward Town Middle School, Sanborn, NY

"A user-friendly instructional resource that makes differentiating mathematics instruction manageable for all educators."
―Linda Kasal Fusco, Mathematics and Science Educational Consultant

Design powerful math instruction that meets the needs of all students!

Now there is a way to differentiate math instruction and engage all students, not just those who excel in mathematics. Authors Harvey F. Silver, John R. Brunsting, and Terry Walsh present a broad collection of tools for mathematics instruction that promotes active, in-depth learning and helps all students meet high standards. Organized around four distinct learning styles―mastery, understanding, self-expressive, and interpersonal―this invaluable resource:

• Shows what the four learning styles look like in the mathematics classroom
• Features 64 instructional tools and explains how to use them to support different types of learners
• Offers guidelines for designing lessons, assessments, and units
• Links the tools to the NCTM process standards
• Provides numerous examples showing how to use the tools with any math curriculum

Math Tools, Grades 3–12 allows teachers and math specialists to pick and choose from classroom-tested tools and practical techniques to differentiate math instruction and help all students excel.

Harvey F. Silver, president of Silver Strong & Associates and Thoughtful Education Press, was named one of the 100 most influential teachers in the country. He has conducted numerous workshops for school districts and state education departments throughout the United States. He was the principal consultant for the Georgia Critical Thinking Skills Program and the Kentucky Thoughtful Education Teacher Leadership Program. Silver is the author of several educational bestsellers, including So Each May Learn: Integrating Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences and Teaching Styles and Strategies, both published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Design. With Richard Strong, Silver developed The Thoughtful Classroom―a renowned professional development program based on the commitment to “make students as important as standards.”

John Brunsting is a mathematics teacher, a staff development specialist, and an author. John serves schools as a teacher and coach as well as a mathematics consultant on practical, style-based tools and strategies. He is a coordinator for Illinois Advanced Placement Institutes and cofounder of Mathematics & Technology Institutes, teacher training organizations committed to the instructional excellence of teachers. Previously an AP Calculus Exam Committee member, John coauthored Preparing for the AP Calculus Examination (2006). In 2008, John coauthored the best-selling Math Tools, Grades 3-12: 64 Ways to Differentiate Instruction and Increase Student Engagement. He has presented at national and international conferences for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM), the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the Japan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (JASCD), Teachers Teaching with Technology (T³), and the International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE).

Terry Walsh has been a mathematics trainer and consultant for nearly 20 years. After retiring from math and administrative positions in two suburban Chicago high schools, In addition to developing Thoughtful Classroom strategies, Terry was one of the founding editor’s of the EightySomething! graphing calculator newsletter. He not only used the strategies in this book in his own classes, he has worked with teachers across the country to help them do the same. He has also incorporated ideas from Math Tools into a variety of Pre-AP Mathematics workshops that he has been leading for the College Board. Terry has led Pre-AP Math and Learning Styles workshops across the U.S as well as in Europe. He has presented at international, national, state, and local mathematics conferences sponsored by such organizations as NCTM, the Illinois and Colorado Councils of Teachers of Mathematics, Teachers Teaching with Technology (T3), and the metropolitan Math Club of Chicago (MMC).

After “retirement”, Terry moved to Colorado. His commitment to educating students and his love of Mathematics brought Terry back into schools―first as the Secondary Math Instructional Coach for Fort Lupton schools and then as a Principal of a secondary charter school. Terry now actively consults with both pre-service and experienced teachers throughout the country to help them incorporate effective mathematics strategies in their classes in order to increase student learning. You can contact him at: trterryw@yahoo.com.