Growing Problem Solvers provides four original, related, classroom-ready mathematical tasks, one for each grade band. Together, these tasks illustrate the trajectory of learners’ growth as problem solvers across their years of school mathematics.
Browse
Hyejin Park, Tuğba Boz, Amanda Sawyer, and James C. Willingham
Justin Gregory Johns, Chris Harrow, and Ruthmae Sears
Problems to Ponder provides 28 varying, classroom-ready mathematics problems that collectively span PK–12, arranged in the order of the grade level. Answers to the problems are available online. Individuals are encouraged to submit a problem or a collection of problems directly to mtlt@nctm.org. If published, the authors of problems will be acknowledged.
Stacy K. Boote and Terrie M. Galanti
Elementary school students use physical manipulatives (e.g., pattern blocks) to make sense of the geometry and measurement ideas in a Code.org block-based programming lesson.
Wayne Nirode
The author alters the definitions of ellipses and hyperbolas by using a line and a point not on the line as the foci, instead of two points. He develops the resulting prototypical diagrams from both synthetic and analytic perspectives, as well as making use of technology.
Roger Day
Ear to the Ground features voices from several corners of the mathematics education world.
Charles F. Marion
The simplest of prekindergarten equations, 1 + 2 = 3, is the basis for an investigation involving much of high school mathematics, including triangular numbers, arithmetic sequences, and algebraic proofs.
Taea Fonkert
This department provides a space for current and past PK-12 teachers of mathematics to connect with other teachers of mathematics through their stories that lend personal and professional support.
George J. Roy, Kristin E. Harbour, Christie Martin, and Matthew Cunningham
Using this strategy, a teacher facilitates a short conversation during which students verbally explain and justify reasoning. We have found that a coordinated series of number talks supports students’ reasoning when comparing fractions.
Jen Munson, Geetha Lakshminarayanan, and Thomas J. Rodney
Off You Go is a PK–12 mathematical routine that leverages children’s home resources and assets to support them in developing conceptual precision. We provide a guide for how to adapt this routine to engage students at any grade in argumentation and attending to precision.
Ruthmae Sears
This article describes how visual representations can help develop students’ reasoning and proof skills.
