Mathematics in the Making: Authoring Ideas in Primary Classrooms

Mathematics education has been criticized for focusing too much time on skills and not enough on concepts and strategies. To help students become mathematically literate, they may need to be guided by more global concepts - concepts that portray mathematics as a way of thinking. This text demonstrates how children can become "authors" of their own mathematical ideas by emphasizing mathematics as a way of thinking. The term "author" is given because it conveys the active, constructive, and exploratory role that children are to assume if they are to become empowered mathematical thinkers. They draw comparisons with the authoring cycle and show how they supported primary students as these children revised, collaborated, and made personal connections to mathematical situations. Included are descriptions of a range of mathematical experiences, such as measuring with standard and nonstandard units, reading children's literature to reinforce concepts, writing about mathematics and yearlong investigations. There are examples of children's writing, drawing and exploratory conversations, along with practical suggestions on how to start the year, establish certain mathematical rituals, work with parents, and meet goals in a responsive way. The book distinguishes among concepts, strategies, and skills to highlight what really matters in mathematics, closing with a model for evaluation.