Mindset Mathematics: Visualizing and Investigating Big Ideas, Grade 4

I'm an elementary school ESOL teacher. My own 4th grade child has moderate auditory processing and working memory challenges. Right now, I'm using this book at home to help my 4th grader. Last spring the math specialist was trying to drill her on the multiplication tables by rote memory -- and it just wasn't happening. In fact, she ended up with a huge case of failure-induced math anxiety. My concern was that I wanted her to have a stronger conceptual understanding of multiplication, not just to spit out memorized math facts. ...so I bought this book for use at home. In the past 3 weeks (just prior to and at the beginning of the school year), we've been working through the first set of conversations, drawing activities, and games in this book. Yesterday, as we were talking about the game (from the book) we've been playing, I commented to my child, "See, math isn't so bad." (She had been so anxious about going back to school this year and taking math.) She responded, "Mom, that game isn't math. It's fun!" Hmmmmmmm.....:) The fewer, deeper visually-oriented activities -- such as the pattern coloring and analyses activity (which we also invited her 7th grade sister to do as part of the fun) -- has prepared my 4th grader well. It's amazing to see. She's more fluent in identifying composite and prime numbers and their factors. She's been zipping through her multiplication homework each night so we get to the games from this book. When she gets stuck, I've been having her use some of the visual strategies emphasized in the book along with the other items in her growing strategy toolkit. More activities in an education book can be overwhelming and sometimes, not as useful. Fewer, deeper games around Big Ideas can have a positive effect on conceptual understanding. This book has a great set of deep, visually-engaging approaches to mathematical understanding. I'm looking forward to the Grade 7 book and plan on buying it to use with my older child. One suggestion: Consider some kind of grouping discount (for purchases of multiple books in this set) for those of us who'd like to buy these books for home use each year. In terms of my ESOL teacher job: My focus is on teaching my students at school how to use language to learn content. I can see great promise for this book with my multilingual learners as well Update: For the play activities, we bought a 100 Pieces 6 Sided Game Dice Set - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0769NPY5Z/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=ASCJ5KR72MQDG&psc=1

This is an excellent resource to plan interactive, engaging activities to help students develop number sense. The activities provide many different answers allowing students to develop critical thinking skills.

This book is amazing for non-mathematical parents like myself. I think I have learned as much as my child. Having spent 41 years as a communication and language arts teacher, math was a subject I avoided. My 9 year old really enjoys the perceptual and visual challenges this program provides. I do wish it offered an answer guide for parents and perhaps DVD's of its core concepts. I know the answers are to be discovered by the students however, if there is a struggle it can be hard to help walk them through it. However, it has caused me to work through the problems myself using Google and YouTube, so in the end it has still been helpful.

This resource offers a way to incorporate visual strategies with mathematics. However, the book is also useful in developing speaking and listening skills, art, science, engineering, technology, and writing. There are patterns in everything around us. Jo Boaler, Jen Munson, and Kathy Williams have collectively assembled a series of research based approaches to how the brain works and learns. This is one well thought out resource that delivers. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent resources for teaching math at a great price!

I love this approach to teaching math. It is a complete change from the way a lot of schools do things, but if you work somewhere you are allowed freedom in your instruction, I really recommend this. The focus of this book is put on brain science and how kids can really learn math and understand concepts. It also prioritizes that ALL students can learn math and how to best implement tasks that all students can access and become successful.

I love Jo Boaler’s unique way of introducing concepts through curiosity and game play. Most of the lessons are easy to read through and implement. I am a gifted math teacher, and I buy the year ahead for my students.

Another great resource from Jo Boalar; lots of practical ideas and supporting links Lots of writing, not an user friendly read but worth reading. I'm a dip in and out reader so this style is one I struggle with as it is not designed for my sport of reading - lots of gems to find in there.

Fabulous resource can’t recommend this highly enough. Gets children thinking outside the box. So good I bought the whole set and waiting on the latest one

This is a fantastic book for open ended math questions that challenge students thinking and helps to build foundations in Math. I love that the questions are broken up by big ideas to make it easier t follow a curricular path. I highly recommend this book for teachers wanting to change their approach to Math! This is also a great book for parents who are wanting to follow their teachers curriculum but provide their own work at home to help improve their students understanding.

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This book will help you diversify mathematics in your classroom. It's creative and interconnected applications are for both teachers and students.

This is exactly what I had hoped it would be...and more! Mindset Mathematics inspires me to teach my students to love the creativity of math! This is not just for Grade 4 but could be used for many grade levels. Thanks Jo!!