Bringing the Common Core Math Standards to Life: Exemplary Practices from Middle Schools

As middle school math teachers shift to the Common Core State Standards, the question remains: What do the standards actually look like in the classroom? This book answers that question by taking you inside of real, Common Core classrooms across the country. You’ll see how exemplary teachers are meeting the new requirements and engaging students in math. Through these detailed examples of effective instruction, you will uncover how to bring the standards to life in your own classroom! Special Features: • A clear explanation of the big shifts happening in the classroom as a result of the Common Core State Standards • Real examples of how exemplary teachers are meeting the CCSS by teaching problem solving for different learning styles, proportional reasoning, the Pythagorean theorem, measurements, and more • A detailed analysis of each example to help you understand why it is effective and how you can try it with your own students • Practical, ready-to-use tools you can take back to your classroom, including unit plans and classroom handouts

Table of Contents:
1. Trends and Issues Leading to the Common Core State Standards 2. Exemplary Practice: What Does it Look Like? 3. Gail Englert: Conceptual Foundation for Proportional Reasoning 4. Laura Mullen: Learning Styles and Problem Solving 5. Thomas Wright: Making Sense of the Pythagorean Theorem 6. Madeline Landrum: Modeling Real World Problems with Multi-Step Inequalities 7. Merrie Schroeder: Statistics with Snack Food 8. Teachers Adapting Tasks to Closely Align to CCSSM 9. Jim Specht: The Last Great Race 10. Ivan Gill: Meaningful Connections Between Measurement, Units, Proportions and Graphing 11. Patterson School 2: Journey Beyond TIMSS

About the Author :
Yvelyne Germain-McCarthy is Professor Emerita of mathematics education at the University of New Orleans. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and a consultant to school districts.

Review :
"From every corner, we are being challenged to engage students in mathematical decision making, reasoning, and communication and to help students build and use their mathematical knowledge. This practical resource is full of recommendations and tips from real teachers who describe their methods of engaging students in math. The scenarios don't claim to be perfect; in fact, each one challenges you to reflect on your experiences and explore the impact of your teaching on students' mathematical decision making." --Henry S. Kepner, Jr., Professor Emeritus, Mathematics Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Past-President, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics "This publication offers great guidance on how to draw insights from students and truly teach math as thinking content; not as a boring, disconnected product of memorization of alien concepts. The Common Core curriculum is an attempt to promote such teaching. Breaking old patterns is challenging, but when we teachers find inspiration, we face challenges with an unstoppable force. Dr. McCarthy has always provided such guidance and inspiration, and I have become a better teacher because of it. I know I will be using this publication often. The articles and the reflections have already inspired me to create better lessons." --Ana Riehlmann, Math Teacher at Hynes Charter School, LA