I returned to the classroom last year after 4 years as an elementary librarian. The two years before I became a librarian, I taught only Language Arts and Social Studies and shared my classroom with a colleague who taught the Math and Science. So it had been six years since I'd paid much attention to math.
I've always loved teaching math (which surprises lots of people) and I am actually a better mathematician than I am a reader and writer. I've always loved math and love to watch the discovery on kids' faces as they explore numbers and problem solving and critical thinking.
So I wanted to jump back in and was happy to see that there were lots of amazing resources out there. I picked up several professional books on math teaching that I planned to read last summer. Then I got a concussion and my reading life was put on hold. Over the year, I continued to pick up great books and took recommendations from smart friends and colleagues. So, my stack has grown and grown. There are books on my stack that I've already read, books I want to read cover to cover and books that I want to dabble in to get the info I'm looking for.
I moved from teaching 4th grade to teaching 3rd grade this year and the math teaching is a little bit different. I find myself looking more in the K-3 resources these days.
Our district is moving to a Math Workshop and as much as I overall like the way math went this year, there are lots of things I need to change. I am really thinking hard about better routines, more intentional conversations and the role of student choice in Math Workshop.
Books I've read and loved in the last year or two:
One of my favorite reads over the last few years was Math Exchanges: Guiding Young Mathematicians in Small Group Meetings
I spent a great deal of time with Number Talks, Grades K-5: Helping Children Build Mental Math and Computation Strategies
I also spent time with What's Your Math Problem? Getting to the Heart of Teaching Problem Solving
I spent some time with Number Sense Routines: Building Numerical Literacy Every Day in Grades K-3
Books I'm Most Excited to Read
At MRA this year, we somehow started talking Math and Brian Wyzlic invented #nerdymathclub. He recommended 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions [NCTM]
Practices Into Action: Implementing the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice, K-8
A brand new book that I am VERY excited about is Intentional Talk: How to Structure and Lead Productive Mathematical Discussions
Guided Math in Action
Minds on Mathematics: Using Math Workshop to Develop Deep Understanding in Grades 4-8
Finally, I picked up Guided Math in Action: Building Each Student's Mathematical Proficiency with Small-Group Instruction
There are more on my stack but these are the few I really want to dig into this summer. I'm open to any other suggestions that will help with Math Workshop in Grade 3! What are you reading?
Also, we are hoping to have some Twitter Chats around math over the summer. Keep an eye out or the hashtag #nerdymathclub (thanks, @brianwyzlic) if you'd like to join us!
Thank you for posting today and for your feedback on your pile of books. I am posting tomorrow about math after reflecting on this year and thinking about 5th grade math workshop.
ReplyDeleteI am sending this to a teacher/friend who is going back into the classroom with a great deal of autonomy to design her curriculum. Great list of resources.
ReplyDeleteSo many good titles here Franki. I am always thinking about ways to improve my math time with kids. I've noticed how much more our students know about number sense since our district began using Number Talks. I'm even a little sad that I won't be teaching math next year. I had to just have a pep talk with myself not to order any of the new books you mentioned. :)
ReplyDeleteI read "Guided Math in Action" this school year and it really helped me think through the workshop model and value of small groups in math during the week. Your list has added many to my list now too! Great post
ReplyDeleteThank you Franki for all of the resources! Have played around with math workshop but it just has not gone like how I would like. Looking forward to the math chats this summer!
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