Teaching First : A Guide for New Mathematicians

Teaching First A Guide for New Mathematicians
Series: MAA Notes

An invaluable guide for new teachers.

In Teaching First, Thomas Rishel draws on his nearly forty years of teaching experience to address the nuts and bolts issues of teaching college mathematics.

The book is written for the mathematics TA or young faculty member who may be wondering just where and how to start. Rishel opens the eyes of the reader to pitfalls they may never have considered, and offers advice to balancing an obligation to the student with an obligation to mathematics. Throughout he provides answers to seemingly daunting questions shared by most new TAs, such as how to keep a classroom active and lively; how to prepare writing assignments, tests, and quizzes; how exactly to write a letter of recommendation; and how to pace, minute by minute, the "mathematical talks" one will be called upon to give.

Teaching First is Rishel’s answer to those who may suggest that good teaching is innate and cannot be taught. This he emphatically denies, and he insists that solid teaching starts with often overlooked seeming trivialities that one needs to master before exploring theories of learning. Along the way he also covers the general issues that teachers of all subjects eventually experience: fairness in grading, professionalism among students and colleagues, identifying and understanding student types, and technology in the classroom. All of the subjects in the book are considered within the context of Rishel’s experience as a mathematics teacher. All are illustrated with anecdotes and suggestions specific to the teaching of mathematics.

Teaching First is a comprehensive guide for a mathematics TA, from the first semester preparations through the unforeseen challenges of accepting a faculty position. Its aim is to prepare new TAs with clear suggestions for rapidly improving their teaching abilities.

Thomas W. Rishel received his PhD in topology at the University of Pittsburgh. He has taught at a community college, two four-year institutions, and two graduate departments.