The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has released a document that aims to describe in detail what teachers and education leaders need to do in practice to help students meet the expectations of the Common Core State Standards for math.
The 135-page book, Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All, published this year, synthesizes and illustrates much of the current pedagogical research on effective math teaching, Diane J. Briars, the president of the Reston, Va.-based membership organization, said.
It lays out eight math teaching practices to support deeper learning in the subject, including 鈥渇acilitate meaningful mathematical discourse,鈥� 鈥減ose purposeful questions,鈥� and 鈥渆licit and use evidence of student thinking.鈥� The guide also addresses 鈥減roductive鈥� and 鈥渦nproductive鈥� beliefs teachers can have with respect to math teaching and learning.
The guidance is designed to explain 鈥渋n one coherent document what are the teaching practices that need to happen on a daily basis to ensure kids develop the conceptual understanding and the ability to use the mathematical practices the common core calls for,鈥� Ms. Briars said.
The NCTM, which published its own math standards 14 years ago, has publicly voiced support for the common core, saying the framework 鈥減resents an unprecedented opportunity for systemic improvement in mathematics education in the United States.鈥�
Principles to Actions can be purchased from the NCTM, in print, for $28.95 ($23.95 for members). An ebook version is available for $4.99 ($3.99 for members).
