Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for Fostering Perseverance

"Seldom has a book been as timely or as necessary as Productive Math Struggle is today. . . One of the remarkable accomplishments of SanGiovanni, Katt, and Dykema’s work lies in how they seamlessly connect the research on high-quality tasks, high expectations, identity, and equity to productive math struggle. This is perhaps their greatest contribution. The authors see productive math struggle as a critical feature of mathematics classrooms that support access, equity, and empowerment, specifically arguing that every student is ‘worthy of struggle.’" 

From the Foreword by Matt Larson, Ph.D.
Past President (2016-2018), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Associate Superintendent for Instruction, Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska

Struggle is hard. Productive struggle is power.

All students face struggle, and they should―it is how they learn and grow. The teacher’s job is not to remove struggle, but rather to value and harness it, helping students develop good habits of productive struggle. But what’s missing for many educators is an action plan for how to achieve this, especially when it comes to math.

Persevering through difficult challenges to reach new learning is the core of Productive Math Struggle. When left unsupported, struggle can become unproductive and demoralizing, negatively influencing students’ mathematical identities. The authors guide teachers through six specific actions―including valuing, fostering, building, planning, supporting, and reflecting on struggle―to create a game plan for overcoming obstacles by sharing

• Actionable steps, activities, and tools for implementation
• Instructional tasks and vignettes representative of each grade level
• Real-world examples showcasing classroom photos and student work samples
  

A book study guide is available under the Free Resources tab that helps math educators to learn together on how to incorporate productive math struggle in their classrooms. 

Revolving around the idea that math is a way of thinking and understanding, and not just the pursuit of answers and procedures, this book empowers students to embrace productive struggle to build essential skills for learning and living―both inside and outside the classroom.

John J. SanGiovanni is a mathematics coordinator in Howard County, Maryland. There, he leads mathematics curriculum development, digital learning, assessment, and professional development. John is passionate about growing new mathematics leaders in the district and through McDaniel College. In addition to the Figuring Out Fluency series, some of his many Corwin books include Daily Routines to Jump-Start Problem Solving, Grades K–8; Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math; the Daily Routines to Jump-Start Math series; and Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for Fostering Perseverance. John is a national mathematics curriculum and professional learning consultant who also speaks frequently at national conferences and institutes. He is active in state and national professional organizations, recently serving on the board of directors for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and on the board of directors for NCSM.

Susie Katt is the K-2 Mathematics Coordinator in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she leads professional learning, assessment, and math curriculum development. She is an author of Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for Fostering Perseverance and Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Math. She is also a national math curriculum consultant. Susie speaks at state, regional, and national conferences. She served the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) as the chair of the editorial panel for the journal Teaching Children Mathematics, as department editor for Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK–12, and as a member of program committees for annual meetings and regional conferences. Susie was recently elected to the board of directors for the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) as Regional Director, Central 2.

Kevin J. Dykema is an 8th grade math teacher in Mattawan, Michigan and serves on several building and district committees. He is a professional learning consultant and is a frequent speaker at national, regional, and local conferences. Kevin is active in state and national professional organizations recently serving on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and as a board member and annual conference chair for the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics.