Sparking the Math Brain: Insights on What Motivates Students to Learn

Interviews of high achieving adults who attended Ivy League schools or pursued master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM including parents of such successful adults revealed that beliefs about one’s ability drives motivation and perseverance to learn math. Beliefs about one’s ability to learn math is not static it is a process of becoming as the individual interacts in the school, home, and social environment. Parents and teachers will gain insights on how to create conditions to support a child to be successful in math and persevere..

Table of Contents:
Preface Motivation and Math Learning The Environment Impacts Motivation to Persevere Reboot: Change Perspectives and Realign Conditions That Make Math Learning Fun A Support System: Family Dynamics of High Achieving Students Spark the Math Brain By Fostering Curiosity Through Experiences Finding Passion Facilitates Meaning, Relevance, and Creativity Fostering a Love of Math Learning and Motivation

About the Author :
Teruni Lamberg is a Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Nevada, Reno. She has conducted research on children’s mathematical thinking for over 20 years and authored many books on helping children learn math.

Review :
Sparking the Math Brain: Insights on What Motivates Students to Learning and Creating Conditions for Learning by Teruni Lamberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Elementary Mathematics Education (K-8), is a treasure trove of insight on what parents and teachers can do now to help children in elementary school develop confidence and intrinsic motivation in math, catapulting them to later math success well beyond elementary school through high school, university, and in their future careers. Dr. Lamberg was brilliant in her idea to interview highly successful adults who had earned degrees in math and related fields of study. In this book, Dr. Lamberg shares their secrets of what parents and teachers did early on in their math education that changed the course of their lives by making math more personally meaningful in their day-to-day worlds, more comfortable and less intimidating, and more interesting - sparking a love for math. This book is perfect for many different audiences including preservice teachers, those learning on the job to be a teacher while taking education coursework (e.g., Arizona Teacher Residency Program), and book study groups (e.g., elementary and middle school teachers; and parents). It is hoped that every teacher and parent get an opportunity to read this book. It's easy to read and has many wonderful recommendations at the end of each chapter that will "spark the math brain" helping children maintain their path to success in math. This book is an excellent resource for parents and teachers who want to gain greater insight into students' motivations to learn and do math. Dr. Lamberg offers actionable steps that can be taken to support mathematics learners. She draws upon research-based theories and practical life experiences of mathematics learners to provide readers with vivid images of learners' lives. I am hopeful that more students will develop better relationships with mathematics if their parents and teachers read this book!