Synopses & Reviews
The first and only text of its kind, Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers, 2/e, offers a comprehensive, content approach designed to foster hands-on, discovery-based mathematics instruction.Students first encounter new concepts through hands-on activities in the Explorations Manual, enabling them to construct their own understanding of the material. The text then serves as a resource for further investigation, explanation, and clarification.
Unlike most texts, which present exercises very similar to examples, Bassarear demonstrates how real-life problems are generally complex and often filled with ambiguity. Students learn that there may be more than one way to find an answer--and even more than one answer.
Synopsis
Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers, 3/e, offers pre-service teachers a comprehensive mathematics course designed to foster concept development through examples, investigations, and explorations. Visual icons throughout the main text allow instructors to easily connect the text to the hands-on activities in the corresponding Explorations Manual.
About the Author
Tom Bassarear is a professor at Keene State College in New Hampshire. He received his BA from Claremont-McKenna College, his MA from Claremont Graduate School, and was awarded an Ed.D degree from the University of Massachusetts. Tom's complementary degrees in mathematics and educational psychology have strongly influenced his convictions about education--specifically, mathematics education. Before teaching at the college level, he taught both middle school and high school mathematics. Since arriving at Keene State College, Tom has spent many hours in elementary classrooms observing teachers and working with them in school and workshop settings, plus, he has taught 4th grade math every day for a semester at a local elementary school.
Table of Contents
Note: Each chapter concludes with an Investigation, Exercise, a Chapter Summary and Review Exercises. 1. Foundations for Learning Mathematics Section 1.1 Getting Comfortable with Mathematics Section 1.2 Problem-Solving Section 1.3 Patterns Section 1.4 Representation Section 1.5 Reasoning and Proof Section 1.6 Communication Section 1.7 Connections 2. Fundamental Concepts Section 2.1 Sets Section 2.2 Algebraic Thinking Section 2.3 Numeration 3. The Four Fundamental Operations of Arithmetic Section 3.1 Understanding Addition Section 3.2 Understanding Subtraction Section 3.3 Understanding Multiplication Section 3.4 Understanding Division 4. Number Theory Section 4.1 Divisibility and Related Concepts Section 4.2 Prime and Composite Numbers Section 4.3 Greatest Common Factor and Least Common Multiple 5. Extending the Number System Section 5.1 Integers Section 5.2 Fractions and Rational Numbers Section 5.3 Understanding Operations with Fractions Section 5.4 Beyond Integers and Fractions: Decimals, Exponents, and Real Numbers 6. Proportional Reasoning Section 6.1 Ratio and Proportion Section 6.2 Percents 7. Uncertainty: Data and Chance Section 7.1 Representing and Interpreting Data Section 7.2 Distributions: Centers and Spreads Section 7.3 Concepts Related to Chance Section 7.4 Counting and Chance 8. Geometry as Shape Section 8.1 Basic Ideas and Building Blocks Section 8.2 Two-Dimensional Figures Section 8.3 Three-Dimensional Figures 9. Geometry as Transforming Shapes Section 9.1 Congruence Transformations Section 9.2 Symmetry and Tessellations Section 9.3 Similarity Section 9.4 Topology 10. Geometry as Measurement Section 10.1 Systems of Measurement Section 10.2 Perimeter and Area Section 10.3 Surface Area and Volume Appendix A. Principles and Standards for School Mathematics Answers to Selected Exercises