Teaching Essential Mathematics, Grades K-8

Dr. Timothy J. McNamara is a private mathematics consultant specializing in K-12 systemic improvement efforts for schools and school districts nationwide. Tim has served as both a math teacher and curriculum supervisor in western New York since 1975. He has taught students from grade seven through fourteen, at all levels of ability from remedial to gifted, and in both public and private-school settings. He has also written articles for numerous math teacher journals, and was founder and faculty editor for the Nichols School of Buffalo student mathematics publication, The Nth Degree. Tim is a contributing member of a variety of professional organizations, including the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and has facilitated countless conference workshops around the country, including numerous presentations at NCTM national conferences. In 1993, Tim was honored as the New York State recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Secondary Mathematics Teaching.

Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction 1. Number and Operations Overview A Case for "Why?" Calculator Application: Multiplying Fractions Double Take GCF and LCM Make It With an Abacus 2. Algebra Overview Catch the Beat Growing Patterns Mathemagic Divide and Conquer Raising the Stakes 3. Geometry Overview Make Figures "Happen" Hands-On Shapes Guess My Pattern Crazy Quilts Fold It Right There! 4. Measurement Overview How So? Calculator Application: Finding the Measures of the Two Acute Angles of a Right Triangle I Scream . . . You Scream . . . How They Stack Up Calculator Application: Surface Area of a Rectangular Solid 5. Data Analysis and Probability Even the Odds Overview Calculator Application: Determining the Sum of Two Randomly Selected Numbers as Odd or Even Read More About It! Living Graphs Fire and Ice Games of Chance Appendix: Worksheet Blackline Masters Glossary References Index

"Putting together a book for teachers that contains 'tried and tested' lessons created by award-winning educators is very important and useful. The activities can be used to help students understand the reason for the algorithms. Students should not just learn 'how,' but also 'why.'" -- Carrie Chiappetta, Math Teacher "This is a much needed resource book for both inservice and preservice teachers." -- Helen Melvin, Second-Grade Teacher "The activities presented provide a foundation that allows an elementary school teacher to make sense out of the mathematics being taught. The book will appeal to teachers because the lessons begin at a very basic level but methodically progress to a higher level of mathematical thinking." -- Joyce Dodd, Sixth-Grade Math Teacher "The author has successfully created a resource book for teachers that accomplishes the goal of 'more discovery and more connections between topics' for mathematics classrooms, which will result in more student engagement. This book will be a valuable resource to new teachers looking for appropriate lessons tied to curriculum standards, veteran teachers looking for new ideas for content-specific activities, and college instructors of preservice and inservice teachers." -- MAA Reviews, February 2008