Developing Thinking In Geometry

"All readers can use this book to reignite their fascination with mathematics. Fosters not only a curiosity about geometry itself but crucially focuses on how learners can actively engage in thinking about geometry and its central key ideas."-Sylvia Johnson, Professor, Sheffield Hallam University"Exudes activity and interactivity. A book for learning geometry, learning to think more deeply about geometry, and also about its teaching and learning."-David Pimm, Professor, University of AlbertaDeveloping Thinking in Geometry enables teachers and their support staff to experience and teach geometric thinking. Discussing key teaching principles, the book and its accompanying interactive CD-ROM include many activities encouraging readers to extend their own learning, and teaching practices.Drawing on innovative approaches for teaching and learning geometry developed by the Open University's Centre for Mathematics Education, this resource is constructed around the following key themes:InvarianceLanguage and points of viewReasoning using invarianceVisualizing and representing

By integrating pedagogy and subject knowledge through experiencing a variety of tasks for learners, this book makes it possible for all learners to succeed in thinking algebraically.

'Geometry is often given less time in the teaching timetable than other aspects of mathematics. This book encourages practitioners to think about and raise its profile, indeed achieving what its title suggest' - Primary Practice `This creative, innovative and fascinating book/CD package is one you "MUST BUY". All prospective, new and experienced teachers of mathematics can use it to transform their teaching. All readers can use it to reignite their fascination with mathematics' - Professor Sylvia Johnson, Sheffield Hallam University 'This book exudes activity and interactivity. Moreover, it provides challenge in the context of a significant pedagogy, one that is not just present but actually made explicit. It is undoubtedly a book to learn geometry with, but also one to learn to think more deeply about geometry, about its nature and essence, and also about its teaching and learning' - David Pimm Developing Thinking in Geometry enables teachers and their support staff to experience and teach geometric thinking. As well as discussing key teaching principles, the book and accompanying interactive CD include many activities that encourage readers to extend their own learning, and consequently their teaching practices. The book is constructed around the following key themes: - invariance; - language and points of view; - reasoning using invariance; - visualising and representing. These themes draw on teaching principles developed by the team at the Open University's Centre for Mathematics Education which has a 20-year track record of innovative approaches to teaching and learning geometry. This is a 'must have' text for all primary mathematics specialists, secondary and Further Education mathematics teachers and their support staff. Anyone who wishes to create an understanding and enthusiasm for geometry based upon firm research and effective practice, will enjoy this book. This is the course reader for the Open University Course ME627 Developing Geometric Thinking

This volume reflects an appreciation of the interactive roles of subject matter, teacher, student, and technologies in designing classrooms that promote understanding of geometry and space. Although these elements of geometry education are mutually constituted, the book is organized to highlight, first, the editors' vision of a general geometry education; second, the development of student thinking in everyday and classroom contexts; and third, the role of technologies. Rather than looking to high school geometry as the locus--and all too often, the apex--of geometric reasoning, the contributors to this volume suggest that reasoning about space can and should be successfully integrated with other forms of mathematics, starting at the elementary level and continuing through high school. Reintegrating spatial reasoning into the mathematical mainstream--indeed, placing it at the core of K-12 mathematics environments that promote learning with understanding--will mean increased attention to problems in modeling, structure, and design and reinvigoration of traditional topics such as measure, dimension, and form. Further, the editors' position is that the teaching of geometry and spatial visualization in school should not be compressed into a characterization of Greek geometry, but should include attention to contributions to the mathematics of space that developed subsequent to those of the Greeks. This volume is essential reading for those involved in mathematics education at all levels, including university faculty, researchers, and graduate students.

A thinking student is an engaged student Teachers often find it difficult to implement lessons that help students go beyond rote memorization and repetitive calculations. In fact, institutional norms and habits that permeate all classrooms can actually be enabling "non-thinking" student behavior. Sparked by observing teachers struggle to implement rich mathematics tasks to engage students in deep thinking, Peter Liljedahl has translated his 15 years of research into this practical guide on how to move toward a thinking classroom. Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K–12 helps teachers implement 14 optimal practices for thinking that create an ideal setting for deep mathematics learning to occur. This guide Provides the what, why, and how of each practice and answers teachers’ most frequently asked questions Includes firsthand accounts of how these practices foster thinking through teacher and student interviews and student work samples Offers a plethora of macro moves, micro moves, and rich tasks to get started Organizes the 14 practices into four toolkits that can be implemented in order and built on throughout the year When combined, these unique research-based practices create the optimal conditions for learner-centered, student-owned deep mathematical thinking and learning, and have the power to transform mathematics classrooms like never before.

Enrich Your Geometry Curriculum and Extend Your Students' Spatial Reasoning Research shows that children with good spatial skills perform better in mathematics overall. This research-based resource is a unique blend of professional learning and classroom activities. It includes: 32 field-tested and research-based activities designed to appeal to young children Guided lesson plans, including 15 videos, that serve as models for best practice in instruction Tips on observing, questioning, and assessing young children's geometric and spatial thinking Free access to website with videos, curriculum correlations, line masters, and observation guides

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study has shown that American schools have consistently helped students understand algebraic and statistical concepts, leading to high achievement internationally. Now it's time to do the same for geometry. Mark Driscoll, author of the powerful and popular Fostering Algebraic Thinking, takes up the challenge and leads you to new, research-based ways to improve how your students conceptualize and apply geometric ideas. With Fostering Geometric Thinking any math teacher can discover essential, practical ideas for helping students cultivate geometric habits of mind that lead to success in this crucial mathematical subject. The book focuses on rigorous, problem-based teaching that encourages students to deepen their thinking in three key geometric strands: geometric properties geometric transformations measurement of geometric objects. Fostering Geometric Thinking shows you how the interplay of these strands helps students devise multiple solutions and develop a broader sense of geometric principles. It's loaded with helpful resources, including: engaging problems to use in your classroom examples of student solutions to these problems transcripts of classroom interactions online resources featuring in-the-field footage of students working through open-ended problems highlighted in the book. Geometry is a vital component of mathematical understanding, and it's time that it received the same attention that algebra and statistics do. With engaging problems and straightforward suggestions that can help students deepen, recognize, and describe their thinking, Fostering Geometric Thinking is the resource you need to ensure that when it comes to geometry, your students know all the angles.

"Based on the popular Fostering Geometric Thinking, the Toolkit's 20 two-hour sessions provide a year's worth of math PD for middle and secondary teachers. Its facilitator and particpant-friendly sessions cover the key topics of Fostering Geometric Thinking: geometric properties, transformations and measurement. With the Fostering Geometric Thinking Toolkit, you'll lead teachers through hands-on opportunites to: develop new understandings of middle and secondary students' geometric thinking through a field-tested geometric habits-of-mind framework. Broaden and express their own geometric thinking by solving rich problems. Observe students' thinking and problem solving through in-the-classrom footage. Practice analyzing student work. Apply all they've learned in the sessions to engage students' thinking more effectively."--PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE.

Early childhood mathematics is vitally important for young children's present and future educational success. Research demonstrates that virtually all young children have the capability to learn and become competent in mathematics. Furthermore, young children enjoy their early informal experiences with mathematics. Unfortunately, many children's potential in mathematics is not fully realized, especially those children who are economically disadvantaged. This is due, in part, to a lack of opportunities to learn mathematics in early childhood settings or through everyday experiences in the home and in their communities. Improvements in early childhood mathematics education can provide young children with the foundation for school success. Relying on a comprehensive review of the research, Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood lays out the critical areas that should be the focus of young children's early mathematics education, explores the extent to which they are currently being incorporated in early childhood settings, and identifies the changes needed to improve the quality of mathematics experiences for young children. This book serves as a call to action to improve the state of early childhood mathematics. It will be especially useful for policy makers and practitioners-those who work directly with children and their families in shaping the policies that affect the education of young children.