Math Essentials, Middle School Level gives middle school math teachers the tools they need to help prepare all types of students (including gifted and learning disabled) for mathematics testing and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Math Essentials highlights Dr. Thompson’s proven approach by incorporating manipulatives, diagrams, and independent practice. This dynamic book covers thirty key objectives arranged in four sections. Each objective includes three activities (two developmental lessons and one independent practice) and a list of commonly made errors related to the objective.

The book’s activities are designed to be flexible and can be used as a connected set or taught separately, depending on the learning needs of your students. Most activities and problems also include a worksheet and an answer key and each of the four sections contains a practice test with an answer key.

Praise for Math Essentials,Middle School Level

"A valuable resource for use by inservice teachers of middle school mathematics as well as preservice classrooms. The development lessons, followed by independent practice activities, and the inclusion of possible errors students may make provide the teacher with the tools necessary to help students succeed."

–Ernest Oluwole Pratt, assistant professor, department of education, Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio

"Middle school math teachers will want to take this book home with them every night! It addresses key middle school topics and provides easy-to-use activities which not only support the conceptual understanding of the topics but include links to their assessment."

–Francis (Skip) Fennell, professor of education, McDaniel College, Westminister, Maryland, former NCTM board member, and author, Principles and Standards for School Mathematics

Thompson (Texas Women's University) provides 30 lesson sets for teaching numeration, computation, proportional and algebraic reasoning, geometry, measurement, statistics, and probability at the middle school level. Each set consists of a manipulative activity with a materials list, a pictorial activity with detailed instructions, reproducible worksheets, and a short test.
Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Thompson (Texas Women's University) provides 30 lesson sets for teaching numeration, computation, proportional and algebraic reasoning, geometry, measurement, statistics, and probability at the middle school level. Each set consists of a manipulative activity with a materials list, a pictorial activity with detailed instructions, reproducible worksheets, and a short test. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"A valuable resource for use by inservice teachers of middle school mathematics as well as preservice classrooms. The development lessons, followed by independent practice activities, and the inclusion of possible errors students may make  provide the teacher with the tools necessary to help students succeed."

--Ernest Oluwole Pratt, assistant professor, department of education, Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio

"Middle school math teachers will want to take this book home with them every night! It addresses key middle school topics and provides easy-to-use activities which not only support the conceptual understanding of the topics but include links to their assessment."

--Francis (Skip) Fennell, professor of education, McDaniel College, Westminister, Maryland, former NCTM board member, and author, Principles and Standards for School Mathematics

Frances McBroom Thompson, Ph.D. has taught mathematics at the junior and senior high school levels and has served as a K-12 mathematics specialist. She holds a B.S. in mathematics education from Abilene Christian University (Texas), a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Texas in Austin, and a doctoral degree in mathematics education from the University of Georgia at Athens. Dr. Thompson has published numerous articles and conducts workshops for teachers at the elementary and secondary levels.

The Author.

Notes to the Teacher.

Section 1: Number, Operation, and Quantitative Reasoning.

Objectives.

1. Compare and order fractions, decimals (including tenths and hundredths), and percents, and find their approximate locations on a number line.

2. Multiply decimals to solve word problems.

3. Divide decimals to solve word problems.

4. Estimate solutions to multistepped word problems by rounding with decimals.

5. Add fractions or mixed numbers to solve word problems.

6. Subtract fractions or mixed numbers to solve word problems.

7. Divide fractions or mixed numbers to solve word problems.

8. Multiply fractions or mixed numbers to solve word problems.

9. Develop and apply scientific notation to solve word problems.

Practice Test.

Section 2: Proportional and Algebraic Reasoning.

Objectives.

1. Apply ratios in proportional relationships involving unit rates, scale factors, probabilities, or percents.

2. Add integers to solve word problems.

3. Subtract integers to solve word problems.

4. Multiply and divide integers to solve word problems.

5. Model situations with linear equations of the form: aX + b = c, where a, b, and c are integers or decimals and X is an integer.

6. Identify linear and nonlinear functions and contrast their properties using tables, graphs, or equations.

Practice Test.

Section 3: Geometry, Spatial Reasoning, and Measurement.

Objectives.

1. Sketch side views (orthogonal views) of solids and identify different perspectives of solids that satisfy the side views.

2. Identify or graph reflections (flips), rotations (turns), and translations (slides) on a coordinate plane.

3. Use dilations to generate similar two-dimensional shapes, and compare their side lengths, angles, and perimeters; find missing measurements using proportional relationships.

4. Model and apply the Pythagorean theorem to solve real-life problems.

5. Generate the formulas for the circumference and the area of a circle; apply the formulas to solve word problems.

6. Generate and apply the area formula for a parallelogram (including rectangles); extend to the area of a triangle.

7. Generate and apply the area formula for a trapezoid.

8. Apply nets and concrete models to find total or partial surface areas of prisms and cylinders.

9. Find the volume of a right rectangular prism, or find a missing dimension of the prism; find the new volume when the dimensions of a prism are changed proportionally.

Practice Test.

Section 4: Graphing, Statistics, and Probability.

Objectives.

1. Locate and name points using ordered pairs of rational numbers or integers on a Cartesian coordinate plane.

2. Construct and interpret circle graphs.

3. Compare different numerical or graphical models for the same data, including histograms, circle graphs, stem-and-leaf plots, box plots, and scatter plots; compare two sets of data by comparing their graphs of similar type.

4. Find the mean of a given set of data, using different representations such as tables or bar graphs.

5. Find the probability of a simple event and its complement.

6. Find the probability of a compound event (dependent or independent).

Practice Test.