Early Elementary Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice

This book provides elementary educators with powerful resources and lesson plans to engage readers in teaching mathematics for social justice in early childhood settings. It connects mathematics content to social issues and empowers children to be the change. The book is designed for teachers committed to developing equitable and just practices and features content cross-referenced by mathematical concept and social issues, connections to Learning for Justices social justice standards, and downloadable instructional materials and lesson resources.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2022
Publisher: SAGE Publications Inc

This book is a vital resource for all elementary educators who are passionate about promoting social justice in their classrooms. It serves as a powerful call to action, providing teachers with an extensive range of resources and practical strategies to engage students in the practice of teaching mathematics for social justice in early childhood settings. This book makes an immense contribution to the ongoing conversation around social justice and mathematics in elementary education.

Ruchi Agarwal-Rangnath, an Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, strongly emphasizes the importance of this book. She states that it empowers children to be agents of change and encourages them to join the teaching mathematics for social justice movement. In today's world, students of all ages are increasingly aware of social injustices through media and their personal experiences. However, mathematics is often overlooked when discussing social justice issues. This book addresses this gap by bringing early elementary mathematics content to life, connecting it to the natural curiosity and empathy of young children and the issues they encounter.

The book is designed with teachers in mind, offering a user-friendly approach that guides teachers through the process of applying critical frameworks to instruction. It utilizes standards-based mathematics to explore, understand, and respond to social justice issues. Teachers will learn how to plan instruction that engages children in mathematics explorations through age-appropriate, culturally relevant topics such as fairness, valuing diversity and difference, representation and inequality, and environmental justice.

One of the key features of this book is its content cross-referencing, which ensures that mathematical concepts are linked to social issues. This connection helps students to see the relevance and importance of mathematics in addressing social justice concerns. The book also provides guidance for lessons that are driven by children's unique passions and challenges, allowing them to actively participate in their learning journey. Furthermore, the book makes connections between mathematics and other subject areas, such as science, literature, and the arts, to deepen students' understanding of social justice issues.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for all elementary educators who are committed to promoting social justice in their classrooms. It provides teachers with an extensive range of resources, practical strategies, and inspiration to engage students in the practice of teaching mathematics for social justice. By empowering children to be the change, this book contributes to the ongoing conversation around social justice and mathematics in elementary education and helps to create a more equitable and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Weight: 880g
Dimension: 279 x 215 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781071845509