Engage students in mathematics using growth mindset techniques
The most challenging parts of teaching mathematics are engaging students and helping them understand the connections between mathematics concepts. In this volume, you'll find a collection of low-floor, high-ceiling tasks that will help you do just that, by looking at the big ideas in second grade through visualization, play, and investigation.
During their work with tens of thousands of teachers, authors Jo Boaler, Jen Munson, and Cathy Williams heard the same message―that they want to incorporate more brain science into their math instruction, but they need guidance in the techniques that work best to get across the concepts they needed to teach. So, the authors designed Mindset Mathematics around the principle of active student inquiry, with tasks that reflect the latest brain science on learning. Open, creative, and visual math tasks have been shown to support student learning, and more importantly change their relationship with mathematics and start believing in their own potential. The tasks in Mindset Mathematics reflect the lessons from brain science that:
- There is no such thing as a math person and anyone can learn mathematics to high levels.
- Mistakes, struggle, and challenge are opportunities for brain growth.
- Speed is unimportant, and even counterproductive, in mathematics.
- Mathematics is a visual and beautiful subject, and our brains want to think visually about mathematics.
With engaging questions, open-ended tasks, and four-color visuals that will help kids get excited about mathematics, Mindset Mathematics is organized around nine big ideas which emphasize the connections within the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and can be used with any current curriculum.
JO BOALER is a professor of mathematics education at Stanford University and co-founder and faculty director of youcubed. She serves as an advisor to several Silicon Valley companies and is a White House presenter on girls and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The author of seven books, including Mathematical Mindsets, and numerous research articles, she is a regular contributor to news and radio in the United States and England.
JEN MUNSON is an assistant professor of learning sciences at Northwestern University, a professional developer, and a former classroom teacher. She received her PhD in mathematics education from Stanford University. Her research focuses on responsive, equitable mathematics instruction.
CATHY WILLIAMS is the co-founder and the executive director of youcubed at Stanford University. Before working at youcubed, she was a high school math teacher and worked in mathematics curriculum and administration at the county and district levels in California.
For BI1, set bullet color as LIGHT GREEN
Big Idea 1: Partitioning Shapes into Equal Parts
Visualize: Equal or Same?
Play: Four Fourths
Investigate: Rows and Columns
For BI2, set bullet color as LIGHT BLUE
Big Idea 2: Making and Using Equal Groups
Visualize: The Groups Inside
Play: Skipping down the Hall
Investigate: Array Museum
For BI3, set bullet color as LIGHT PURPLE
Big Idea 3: What Is 100?
Visualize: The Many Ways to See 100
Play: Scoop and Count
Investigate: Making a Dollar, Revisited
For BI4, set bullet color as YELLOW
Big Idea 4: Composing and Decomposing Numbers
Visualize: Array Talks
Play: Which Is More?
Investigate: Coin Grab
For BI5, set bullet color as PINK
Big Idea 5: Using Patterns in Place Value
Visualize: What’s in Your 12?
Play: Reach for It!
Investigate: Window Mysteries
For BI6, set bullet color as DARK BLUE
Big Idea 6: Thinking on the Number Line
Visualize: Long Lives
Play: Life-Span Puzzles
Investigate: Living on the Number Line
For BI7, set bullet color as ORANGE
Big Idea 7: Rulers and Clocks Are Number Lines
Visualize: Noticing the Ruler and Clock
Play: Walking the Clock
Investigate: A Sea of Sharks
For BI8, set bullet color as RED
Big Idea 8: Using Units to Measure
Visualize: Foot by Foot
Play: Length Scavenger Hunt
Investigate: School-Day Walkabout
For BI9, set bullet color as DARK GREEN
Big Idea 9: Using Data to Visualize and Wonder about Our World
Visualize: Fruit around the World
Play: Eat Your Roots
Investigate: Dear Data
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