Helping Students Become Powerful Mathematics Thinkers: Case Studies of Teaching for Robust Understanding

This book supports teacher educators, teachers, coaches, administrators, math-ed faculty, and researchers in understanding and using the Teaching for Robust Understanding (TRU) Framework to improve instruction. Detailed case studies take readers on deep dives into five essential dimensions of classroom practice, focusing on the ways that students are led to engage with mathematics and how they make sense of it. Three case studies form the core of the book, and the book concludes with guides for planning, observation, and reflection that readers can use in their own work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive guide is designed to assist teacher educators, teachers, coaches, administrators, math-ed faculty, and researchers in comprehending and effectively implementing the Teaching for Robust Understanding (TRU) Framework to enhance instruction. Through detailed case studies, readers are taken on immersive journeys into five critical dimensions of classroom practice: mathematics, cognitive demand, equitable access, agency, ownership, and identity, and formative assessment. Three case studies serve as the foundation of the book, each utilizing the TRU framework to pose thought-provoking questions that delve into various aspects of the lessons. These questions focus on how students engage with mathematics and how they make sense of it, such as "What is significant in this classroom episode?", "What might students be experiencing?", or "What might the impact of alternative teaching decisions have been in this situation?"

The book concludes with practical guides for planning, observation, and reflection that readers can apply to their own work, furthering their journey toward achieving ambitious and equitable instruction as outlined in each case study. This book is a valuable resource for all mathematics educators, as it empowers them to develop a deeper understanding of mathematics classrooms and challenge their own mathematics instruction. By exploring the challenges students face, the decisions teachers make, and the diverse ways in which students learn, readers will discover TRU as a transformative approach to teaching that can shape lesson planning, reflection, and ultimately make teaching more impactful and equitable.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032450629