Open Middle Math: Problems That Unlock Student Thinking, Grades 6-12

This book is an amazing resource for teachers who are struggling to help students develop both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding. –Dr. Margaret (Peg) Smith, co-author of 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematical Discussions

Imagine that you assign a math problem and your students, instead of getting discouraged after not solving it on the first attempt, start working harder--as if on a quest to figure out the answer. What could possibly make this scenario come true? The answer is: Open Middle math problems and the strategies in this book.

Inside you'll learn how to:

• Implement Open Middle math problems that are simultaneously accesible for both students who are struggling and those looking for more challenge.
• Select and create Open Middle math problems that will help you detect students' misconceptions and strengthen their conceptual understanding.
• Prepare for and facilitate powerful classroom conversations using Open Middle math problems.
• Access resources that will help you continue learning beyond this book.

With these practical strategies, extensive resources, and Robert's own stories, you will be able to support, challenge, and motiviate your students.

Robert Kaplinsky has been an educator since 2003 as a classroom teacher, teacher specialist for Downey Unified School District, instructor for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and presenter at conferences around the world. He co-founded the website Open Middle, has been published in Edutopia and Education Week, is the author of Open Middle Math: Problems That Unlock Student Thinking, and created the #ObserveMe movement. He’s also the founder and president of Grassroots Workshops.