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The Math Pact, Middle School
Foreword by Robert Q. Berry III and Matt Larson
Featuring Rules That Expire and Other Dos and Don'ts
Expanded from the highly popular “Rules that Expire” series of NCTM articles, this essential guide leads educators through the collaborative process of establishing a consistent learner-centered and equitable approach to mathematics instruction through team building.
- Grade Level: 6-8
- ISBN: 9781544399553
- Published By: Corwin
- Series: Corwin Mathematics Series
- Year: 2020
- Page Count: 208
- Publication date: September 30, 2020
Price: $36.95
Review Copies
Review copies may be requested by individuals planning to purchase 10 or more copies for a team or considering a book for adoption in a higher ed course. To request a review copy, contact sales@corwin.com.
Description
A schoolwide solution for students’ mathematics success!
Do you sometimes start to teach a mathematics concept and feel like you’re staring at a sea of bewildered faces? What happens when you discover students previously learned a calculation trick or a mnemonic that has muddied their long-term understanding? When “rules” seem to change from year to year, teacher to teacher, or school to school, mathematics can seem like a disconnected mystery for students. Clear up the confusion with a Mathematics Whole-School Agreement!
Expanded from the highly popular “Rules that Expire” series of NCTM articles, this essential guide leads educators through the collaborative step-by-step process of establishing a coherent and consistent learner-centered and equitable approach to mathematics instruction. Through this work, you will identify, streamline, and become passionate about using clear and consistent mathematical language, notations, representations, rules, and generalizations within and across classrooms and grades. Importantly, you’ll learn to avoid “rules that expire”—tricks that may seem to help students in one grade but hurt in the long run. Features of this book include
· Abundant grade-specific examples
· Effective working plans for sustainability
· Barrier-busting tips, to-dos, and try-it-outs
· Practical templates and checklists
· PLC prompts and discussion points
When teachers unite across grades, students hit the ground running every year. Take the next step together as a team and help all your students build on existing understanding to find new success and most importantly, love learning and doing mathematics!
Author(s)
Sarah B. Bush
Dr. Sarah B. Bush, a former middle school mathematics teacher, is a Professor of K–12 STEM Education and the Lockheed Martin Eminent Scholar Chair at the University of Central Florida. At the University of Central Florida, she is the Director of the Lockheed Martin/UCF Mathematics and Science Academy and is a program co-coordinator of the Mathematics Education PhD track. She teaches primarily graduate courses in mathematics education. She is a prolific writer who has authored 13 books and more than 100 journal articles and book chapters. Dr. Bush recently completed a term (2019–2022) as a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board of Directors. She served as the lead writer and task force chair for NCTM’s Catalyzing Change in Middle School Mathematics: Initiating Critical Conversations. Dr. Bush was the recipient of the 2021 School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA) Award for Excellence in Integrating Science and Mathematics and 2018 recipient of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) Early Career Award. Dr. Bush seamlessly integrates her practical experience as a middle school mathematics teacher in public schools with her innovative scholarship to serve as an instructional leader in the field of mathematics education and STE(A)M education. Dr. Bush co-wrote the Simplifying STEM: Four Equitable Practices to Inspire Meaningful Learning: PreK-5 and 6-12 books published by Corwin in early 2024.
Karen S. Karp
Karen S. Karp is a professor in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, she was a professor of mathematics education in the Department of Early and Elementary Childhood Education at the University of Louisville, where she received the President’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the Distinguished Service Award for a Career of Service. She is a former member of the board of directors of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and a former president of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE). She is a member of the author panel for the What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide on assisting elementary school students who have difficulty learning mathematics for the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Educational Sciences. She is the author or coauthor of approximately 20 book chapters, 50 articles, and 30 books, including Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, Developing Essential Understanding of Addition and Subtraction for Teaching Mathematics, and Inspiring Girls to Think Mathematically. She holds teaching certifications in elementary education, secondary mathematics, and K–12 special education.
Barbara J. Dougherty
University of Hawai‘i at Mãnoa. She is a former member of the board of directors of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and is the
co-chair of the Mathematics/Special Education Workgroup, a partnership between the NCTM and the Council for Exceptional Children. She served
on the author panel for the What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide on assisting elementary school students who have difficulty learning mathematics for the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. She is the author or coauthor of approximately 22 book chapters, 29 articles, and 36 books, including MPower: A Pathway to Understanding Algebra. Her research, funded by more than $11.5 million in grants, emphasizes supporting students who struggle in middle and high school, with a focus on algebra. She holds teaching certifications in middle and high school mathematics and K–12 special education.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Matthew R. Larson, and Robert Q. Berry III
About the Authors
Acknowledgements
Preface
Chapter 1: Jumping on Board: What is the Mathematics Whole School Agreement?
Chapter 2: Watching What We Say! Using Correct and Consistent Language
Chapter 3: Symbol Sense is Foundational: Noting the Importance of Precise Notation
Chapter 4: Mental Images that Last: Cohesive and Consistent Representations
Chapter 5: Why was I Taught That? Evaluating Rules that Expire
Chapter 6: Building Generalizations: Developing Instructional Strategies the MWSA Way
Chapter 7: Embodying the MWSA in Every Lesson: No Teaching by Telling!
Chapter 8: Getting to the Nitty Gritty: Building and Enacting the MWSA
Chapter 9: Sharing Successes from the Field: MWSA Heroes Tell their Stories!
References
Index
Reviews
"Just for a moment, imagine the positive and impenetrable mathematics energetic force field that could be created in a school if every teacher strategically and collaboratively decided upon agreements around mathematics vocabulary, notations, representations, and the overarching philosophy about how mathematics should be taught? Guess what! You do not have to imagine! No more reteaching, revising previously taught material, and explaining that 'Well, in my classroom, we do it, say it, notate it this way.' Because let’s face it, those messages confuse students and families and can frustrate teachers. Grab this book, gather your colleagues, and get started in creating a unified and comprehensive whole school agreement that will positively enrich your students’ mathematics learning experiences!"Beth Kobett
School of Education, Stevenson University
"Maya Angelou said, 'Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.' The Math Pact is a practical guide that supports us in collectively taking responsibility for helping each and every one of our students to become problem solvers, critical thinkers, and capable and confident doers of mathematics. The detailed vignettes and suggestions are vivid guideposts for a journey of self-reflection and collective decision making with colleagues about really critical components of mathematics instruction. It will leave you both “knowing better” and collectively “doing better” for your students. No matter your level of experience, there is something new to learn here! I think it would work beautifully with pre-service teachers, new teachers, and veteran teachers. I even picked up some new things on my read that I hadn’t really thought about in my nearly 30 years in the classroom."Shawn Towle
Falmouth Middle School
"Wow! The Math Pact will lead the movement to help educators and students overcome the idea that math is a mysterious set of 'tricks and shortcuts.' The Mathematics Whole School Agreement process provides the steps, language, representations, and knowledge to build, implement, and sustain equitable learning outcomes for all students! The power to make change is in our collective hands and hearts! This book needs to be in the hands of all teachers, district leaders, and stakeholders."Cathery Yeh
Attallah College of Educational Studies, Chapman University
"As a fan of the 'Rules That Expire' and 'Whole School Agreement' articles, I consider this resource a welcome addition to my professional library! In this practical, easy-to-follow book, the authors provide educators with an extremely thorough and useful “go to guide” on establishing a Mathematics Whole School Agreement (MWSA). For those not familiar with the NCTM articles that initiated the movement, this resource defines what an MWSA is and why each school should establish one. More important, educators learn how to create and implement an MWSA, and the role each school and district stakeholder plays in implementation. This user-friendly resource provides teachers, teacher leaders, parents, and administrators with a comprehensive blueprint that includes research-informed practices, vignettes, grade-specific examples, and tools to encourage reflection."Latrenda Knighten
Elementary Mathematics Instructional Coach
content and practical instructional strategies. In addition, The Math Pact provides guidance to administrators seeking to develop collaborative and cohesive instructional teams focused on providing consistent high-quality mathematics environments and instruction for all students. This is an essential resource for mathematics educators."
"The Math Pact provides middle school mathematics educators a solid resource to increase their knowledge base, through thought-provokingKristopher J. Childs
content and practical instructional strategies. In addition, The Math Pact provides guidance to administrators seeking to develop collaborative and cohesive instructional teams focused on providing consistent high-quality mathematics environments and instruction for all students. This is an essential resource for mathematics educators."
K Childs Solutions
"These books provide effective steps and strategies toward students being able to make powerful, purposeful connections across grade levels and across a wide variety of mathematical concepts."Christine Koerner
Oklahoma State Department of Education
"This book brilliantly connects research-informed practices to empower stakeholders in engaging students in meaningful mathematics through a vertically articulated Mathematics Whole School Agreement! Building on the impact of the Rules That Expire series, the authors lay out an easy to implement approach to share, connect, and represent mathematical ideas across classrooms to intentionally and explicitly bring about change prior, during, and after instruction."Farshid Safi
School of Teacher Education, University of Central Florida
this book. Bush, Karp, and Dougherty’s The Math Pact strategically navigates the complex topic of creating and cultivating cohesive mathematics instruction by introducing readers to their Mathematics Whole School Agreement and specific elements that ensure schoolwide success. Building on their renowned Rules That Expire work, this book takes readers through the essential components of best practices of mathematics teaching. This should be a required read for any mathematics leadership program."
"If you have anything to do with transforming mathematics teaching and learning at your school, then stop everything right now and readHilary Kreisberg
this book. Bush, Karp, and Dougherty’s The Math Pact strategically navigates the complex topic of creating and cultivating cohesive mathematics instruction by introducing readers to their Mathematics Whole School Agreement and specific elements that ensure schoolwide success. Building on their renowned Rules That Expire work, this book takes readers through the essential components of best practices of mathematics teaching. This should be a required read for any mathematics leadership program."
Center for Mathematics Achievement, Lesley University
"This is a long-awaited publication that will help preservice teachers, educators, and administrators of all levels and curriculum coordinators abolish the use of tricks and magic in mathematics instruction. For years we have inadvertently led students down a dead-end street in their math instruction by teaching them expiring rules, tricks, and cutesy sayings that may help them perform short-term on a test but leave them conceptually damaged in the long run."Julie Duford
Polson Middle School
building common commitment. The practical guidance helps me put the ideas into action around what specific changes will improve mathematics teaching and learning."
"This is the perfect balance of inspiration and practical guidance! The inspiration motivates me to work harder at collaboration with peers,Lynn Selking
building common commitment. The practical guidance helps me put the ideas into action around what specific changes will improve mathematics teaching and learning."
Great Prairie AEA
"What is one way that you and your colleagues can support all learners? By engaging in thoughtful conversations in which priorities and plans can lead to sustained change. At the outset, exploring and committing to a Mathematics Whole School Agreement with your colleagues creates the opportunity for consistency in a grade level, a school, as well as in a district. The Math Pact, Middle School: Achieving Instructional Coherence Within and Across Grades not only challenges stakeholders including teachers, parents, community members, paraprofessionals, coaches, learning specialists, and school leadership to explore these foundational agreements but importantly provides a clear pathway to achieve them, and as a result, creates a collective responsibility for the mathematical learning of all students."George J. Roy
University of South Carolina
Review Copies
Review copies may be requested by individuals planning to purchase 10 or more copies for a team or considering a book for adoption in a higher ed course. To request a review copy, contact sales@corwin.com.
Related Resources
- Access to companion resources is available with the purchase of this book.
- Commonly Used Notation in Middle School That Needs Attention [Checklists and Assessments]
- Foreword [Lessons and Strategies]
- Middle School Instructional lessons and units: Don’ts and dos [Checklists and Assessments]