About Teaching Math - Softcover

Marilyn Burns is one of today's most respected mathematics educators. Her messages about math have reached teachers through her many books, videotapes, articles and talks, as well as her extensive program of Math Solutions courses. A former classroom teacher, Marilyn is the recipient of many awards, including the Glenn Gilbert National Leadership Award from the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics and the Louise Hay Award for Contributions to Mathematics from the Association for Women in Mathematics.

This book is a great resource for teachers. It provides essential information to help teachers understand how children learn mathematics. This book is a nice companion to NCTM s Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. It also gives background information and student activities that go hand in hand with Principles and Standards. I read the first edition of Burns s book many years ago, but I still find it to be energizing because it speaks to the soul of teachers who believe that mathematics is more than 2 + 3 = 5. Author Marilyn Burns is synonymous with problem solving. She has been, and continues to be, a leader in the world of mathematics. The book is divided into four parts: Raising the Issues, Problem-Solving Activities in the Strands, Teaching Arithmetic, and Mathematical Discussions. A bibliography, blackline masters, and a list of activities compliment this book. Each part contains a great deal of information and numerous activities for kindergarten through eighth grade. It is a true teacher s resource. Part 1's background information helps readers better understand mathematics education. It is very insightful and makes valuable suggestions for answering tough questions concerning the how of mathematics, such as how mathematics is being taught compared with how it was once taught. Part 3 includes a section on extending multiplication and division that was not in the first edition. Part 4 is entirely new and not to be missed. The activities presented in this book require the students to use the NCTM s Process Standards. Some classic problem-solving activities can be found, such as If a = $.01, b = $.02, . . . , what is the value of your name? and the classic handshake problem. The first-year teacher or the veteran teacher can find this book to be beneficial. The activities are not grade specific because they can be used in different grades. Learning is an ongoing process for both students and teachers, and this book will help both groups learn more about mathematics. I highly recommend it to teachers. --Review by Mary Lou Damjanovich from Teaching Children Mathematics, by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Reprinted with permission from Teaching Children Mathematics.