About the Book
As an elementary teacher, you know that students are different and learn differently. And yet, when students enter your classroom, you somehow must teach these unique individuals deep mathematics content using rigorous standards. Is differentiation really the answer? How can it be done well and in less time?
Nationally recognized math differentiation expert Nanci Smith debunks the myths, revealing what differentiation is and isn’t. In this engaging book Smith reveals a practical approach to teaching for real learning differences. You’ll gain insights into an achievable, daily differentiation process for ALL students in the K-5 classroom.
Theory-lite and practice-heavy, this book shows how to maintain order and sanity while helping your students know, understand, and even enjoy doing mathematics. Classroom videos, teacher vignettes, ready-to-go lesson ideas, and rich K-5 mathematics examples help you build a manageable framework of engaging, sense-making math.
Busy K-5 mathematics teachers, coaches, and teacher teams will learn to
Provide practical structures for assessing how each of your students learns and processes mathematical concepts
Design, implement, manage, and formatively assess and respond to learning in a differentiated classroom
Plan specific, standards-aligned differentiated lessons, activities, and assessments
Adjust current instructional materials and program resources to better meet students′ needs
This book includes classroom videos, in-depth student work samples, student surveys, templates, before-and-after lesson demonstrations, examples of 5-day sequenced lessons, and a robust companion website with downloadables of all the tools in the books plus other resources for further planning. Every Math Learner, Grades K-5 will help you know and understand your students as learners in order to provide daily differentiation that accelerates their mathematics comprehension.
"Every Math Learner is a powerful tool for educators serious about meeting the needs of all learners in their mathematics classrooms. Nanci Smith balances philosophy with practicality while providing a glimpse into real classrooms with real students. Teachers will ultimately learn how to lift students up to their greatest potential in learning."
—Eileen Hogan, District Mathematics Facilitator, Winnetka District #36
Table of Contents:
Video Contents
Foreword by Carol Ann Tomlinson
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
CHAPTER 1. START UP: Why Knowing and Addressing Students’ Learning Differences Is Critical
Introduction
What Differentiation Is and Is Not
A Glance at a Differentiated Classroom
Frequently Asked Questions
Keepsakes and Plans
CHAPTER 2. FIND OUT: Strategies for Determining Who Each of Your Students Is as Mathematics Learner
Who Our Learners Are
Strategies to Determine Readiness
Strategies to Determine Interest
Strategies to Determine Learning Profile
Frequently Asked Questions . . .
Keepsakes and Plans
CHAPTER 3. TEACH UP: Making Sense of Rigorous Mathematical Content
Mathematics Makes Sense
Themes and Big Ideas in Mathematics
Teaching Up
What Learning Mathematics with Understanding Like
Frequently Asked Questions
Keepsakes and Plans
CHAPTER 4. STEP UP: How to Make Proactive Planning Decisions That Deepen Thinking
The Decisions Behind Differentiation
Differentiation and KUD
Strategies for Differentiation
Classroom Structures
Frequently Asked Questions
Keepsakes and Plans
CHAPTER 5. SET IT UP: Establishing the Right Tone to Make Differentiation Doable
A Healthy Learning Environment
Embracing Fair
Everybody Learns
Mindsets
Frequently Asked Questions
Keepsakes and Plans
CHAPTER 6. POWER ON: Mastering and Modeling Daily Routines for Achievement All Year
Classroom Routines
Frequently Asked Questions
Keepsakes and Plans
CHAPTER 7. STEP BACK: Tools for Assessing and Evaluating in a Differentiated Classroom
Assessment For, Of and As Learning
Principles to Develop Assessments
Designing Assessments
Frequently Asked Questions
Keepsakes and Plans
CHAPTER 8. CLOSE UP: A Week in the Life of a Differentiated Mathematics Class
A Look Into a Week in a Primary Classroom
A Look Into a Week in an Intermediate Classroom
Advice From the Field
Conclusion
Appendix A. Further Reading on the Topic of English Language Learners
Appendix B. Further Reading on the Topic of Special Education
Appendix C. Further Reading on the Topic of Rich Problems and Mathematical Discourse
References
Index
About the Author :
Nanci Smith, founder of Effective Classrooms Educational Consulting (E2C2), is currently a full-time consultant in the areas of differentiated instruction, curriculum, Common Core State Standards, and mathematics. Also ASCD faculty in the differentiated instruction cadre, and a Solution Tree consultant and author on two books in press, Nanci has provided professional development in small, large, urban, rural, and suburban districts in 47 states, as well as the Netherlands, Singapore, and Japan. She has presented at conferences and institutes in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and has helped develop high-quality curriculum in the Philippines. Smith is the math consultant and author of the User′s Guide for ASCD′s Meaningful Math: Leading Students Toward Understanding and Application DVD series and has developed a CD/DVD-based professional development series for middle school math teachers. Her classroom was featured in ASCD′s video series At Work in the Differentiated Classroom. She authored a chapter in the ASCD book Differentiation in Practice, Grades 5 - 9, as well as assorted lessons in other ASCD books on differentiation.
Review :
"I will admit, when I first began reading, I was thinking ′here we go again, another book on differentiation.′ As I read, my feelings quickly changed. I believe this book provides different information than previous books I’ve read on the subject. It is very easy to read, and most teachers could make substantive changes in their instruction immediately. This may be the quickest way to improve math learning and understanding I’ve seen. I am anxious to incorporate the strategies in this book in my planning for all students to enhance their ability to know, understand, and do math
while loving it!"
"This is an extremely important topic right now. Young students are expected to learn concepts that used to be saved for much more mature students. The big questions are how to help those young minds understand, especially when the teachers may not have a strong mathematics background? The coverage [in this book] is very complete without being overwhelming. I am impressed that just as I began to think what an insurmountable task teaching has become, [this book] breaks it down to manageable chunks."
"Finally! A book that is written for the elementary teacher that GETS the elementary classroom. Dr. Smith clears up the differentiation dysfunction by giving clear examples with real content. Just this would be enough to purchase and love the resource, however, this book goes the extra mile by also giving "use it now" strategies that are easily understood and implemented. For anyone wishing to have a rich toolkit of strategies to provide deep understanding in key mathematical concepts, this publication is a musthave/must-read."
"I believe Dr. Nanci Smith’s Every Math Learner: A Doable Approach to Teaching With Learning Differences in Mind is arguably the best book now available for math teachers. In my conversations with math teachers and observations of classrooms, there is generally good-to-great expertise in math content knowledge. Problems occur, however, when there is lock-step reliance (perhaps with minor variations) on the math textbook or when there are beliefs and practices that all students predominately learn in the same way. Dr. Smith—a master teacher and trainer—flips the paradigm from teaching to learning. I’ve personally seen Dr. Smith’s work with teachers, and know that she creates tremendous excitement within the teaching profession for practically and substantively moving from teacher-centered classrooms to learning-centered classrooms that support the needs and interests of ALL students."
"While we know that the importance of differentiation is the key to student engagement and success, implementing key differentiation practices remains elusive to us as we balance competing curriculum, student, and administrative demands. Smith’s book seamlessly unpacks what differentiation is and is not and provides explicit and, dare I say, beautiful examples of what this can look like in the classroom. You will be hooked from the first page and be inspired and empowered to transform your classroom, your teaching, and your students’ mathematical learning experiences through and with this practical, realistic, and meaningful differentiation system."
"Every Math Learner continuously invites the reader to interact with the content through the Watch it, Try It, and Consider it processes. The immediate application of the book’s content, the mathematics examples, and the videos of real classrooms are helpful for all educators who want to learn more about their students, differentiate instruction, and plan and implement units or lessons that deepen students’ mathematical interest,
understanding, and learning."
"Dr. Smith provides a clear and well-structured solution to truly making math `doable,’ for all students. As our society continues to move towards a more technology based economy the importance of math concepts becomes more essential for all our students. Dr. Smith, provides clear understandable solutions for educators to reach all students to assure they meet the demands of 21st Century."
"Every Math Learner is a powerful tool for educators serious about meeting the needs of all learners in their mathematics classrooms. Nanci Smith balances philosophy with practicality while providing a glimpse into real classrooms with real students. Teachers will ultimately learn how to lift students up to their greatest potential in learning."
"When looking at resources for teachers of mathematics I frequently find either superficial treatment of important mathematics topics or very narrow, one size fits all, approaches to teaching. Nanci Smith has given us a focus on targeted, differentiated teaching of the logical progression of important mathematics. In this valuable resource she gives us many great assessment and instructional strategies without ever losing sight of the mathematics."
"I trained elementary teachers how to teach mathematics for 17 years. Had this book been available, it would have been part of the curriculum. I really like the Try It! sections that gives teachers strategies they can immediately put to use in their classrooms. The Watch It! videos bring the material to life and the discussion questions tease out the important ideas presented. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about how to deal with differences in the classroom."
