Mathematics and Science Workshops

Winter 2004

Some resources that are available:

The Web:  There seems to be a lot of resources on the web.  I went to google.com and typed in “constructivist mathematics lessons” and got many links.  I looked at some of them and they look good.  When you find good links, email them to me with a brief summary of why they look good and we will start a page of annotated links for the whole class.

The Curriculum Room in the Library:  We have collected many books, manipulatives and other resources in the library.  You can check them out.  Again if you find something really good, email me with a brief description so we can get it out on the web.

The Evergreen Library Catalog:  I looked at it briefly.  I used the search keyword subject with Mathematics Education and founds lots of entries

Cascade Library System:  Under Evergreen Library’s main page is a link to the Cascade system.  It links us up to all higher ed libraries in the state system.  We can get books and materials from any of them.  I found anything I was looking for in this system.

Stuff in My Possession: (a lot of it belongs to other members of the MIT teaching team)

• The art of inquiry: Questioning strategies for k-6 classrooms. / Nancy Lee Cecil.  Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. : Peguis Publishers, 1995.  ISBN 1895411742.  Many teachers have not given enough thought to what questions one should as and how one should phrase them.  Here is a start.
• Best practice : new standards for teaching and learning in American schools / Steven Zemelman, Harvey Daniels, Arthur Hyde.  Portsmouth NH : Heinemann, 1998.  ISBN 0325000913.  Cascade system has this book.  It has sections on best practice in reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies and the arts. 
• Children's mathematics : cognitively guided instruction / Thomas P. Carpenter ... [et al.] Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c1999. ISBN 0325001375.  Cascade system has this book.  Has good examples.
• Collaborative inquiry in science,  math and technology / Dennis Adams, Mary Hamm.  Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c1998.  ISBN 0435071432.  Cascade system has this book.  It has guidelines and examples for using collaborative leaning in math and science.
• Fostering algebraic thinking / Mark Driscoll.  Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c1999.  ISBN 0325001545. It is primarily about how to get students to think algebraically and not about how you might teach algebra per se.
• The learning cycle / Edmund A. Marek and Ann M. L. Cavallo. Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c1997.  ISBN 0435071335.  Cascade system has this book.  It talks about the teaching of science based on Piaget and has lots of examples.
• Learning through problems : number sense and computational strategies : a resource for primary teachers / Paul R. Trafton & Diane Thiessen, Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c1999.  ISBN 032500126X.  Cascade system has this book.  It uses a problem-centered approach.  I personally prefer this approach.
• Living and learning mathematics : stories and strategies for supporting mathematical literacy / David Whitin, Heidi Mills, Timothy O'Keefe ; foreword by Jerome C. Harste. Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c1990.  ISBN Cascade system has this book.  Interesting stories from teachers about the teaching of mathematics.
• Mathematics in process / Ann & Johnny Baker.  Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c1990.  ISBN 0435083066.  Cascade system has this book.  Good examples of constructivist lessons.
• Mathematical scandals / Theoni Pappas.  San Carlos, CA : World Wide Publishing/Tetra, 1997.  ISBN 188455010X.  This book is an interesting approach to the history of mathematics.  It uses controversies as a way to start the conversation.
• Methods that matter : six structures for best practice classrooms / Harvey Daniels and Marilyn Bizar. York, Me. : Stenhouse Publishers, c1998. ISBN 1571100822.  Cascade system has this book.  Another general text about best practice.  It has examples of how to integrate various subjects into a single lesson.
• Nurturing inquiry : real science for the elementary classroom / Charles R. Pearce ; foreword by Wendy Saul. Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c1999.  ISBN 0325001359. Cascade system has this book.  Inquiry based science and math instruction fits well with Piaget and Vygotsky.
• Piagetian activities : a diagnostic and developmental approach / Richard W. Copeland.  Eau Claire, WI : Thinking Publications, c1988.  ISBN 0930599179.  This book is available through the Cascade System.  The copy I have belongs to Jan.  It is an interesting book with lots of activities and explicit references to Piaget’s theories and grade and developmental levels.
• Primary science : taking the plunge / Wynne Harlen with chapters by Jos Elstgeest and Sheila Jelly.  Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, c2001.  ISBN 0325003866. Cascade system has this book.  A short, easy to read guide to constructivist science teaching.
• Science learning : processes and applications / Carol Minnick Santa, Donna E. Alvermann, editors, Newark, Del. : International Reading Association c1991. ISBN 0872073661. Cascade system has this book.  Has good practical advice as well as theoretical background.
• Scienceworks / Ontario Science Center. Reading, MA. 1990. ISBN 0201167808. Contains 65 experiments for elementary age students.  Great hands on examples.
• Teaching mathematics : strategies that work, K-12 / edited by Mark Driscoll and Jere Confrey ; assistant editor, Elsa Martz.  Portsmouth, N. H. : Heinemann, c1986. ISBN 0435083023. Cascade system has this book.  It contains articles by teachers that give examples of how to teach topics in mathematics.
• Windows on science :active learning for young children / Joan Westley. Sunnyvale =,CA Creative Publications, 1988.  This is a series of wirebound books centered on various topics. 
• Young children reinvent arithmetic : implications of Piaget's theory / Constance Kamii.  New York : Teachers College Press, c2000.  ISBN 080773904.  Cascade system has this book.  An expansion of the video you saw.  It is based in Piaget, of course.

Other things I have:

• I have a couple of years of NCTM’s (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) magazines:  Mathematics Teacher, Teaching Middle School Mathematics and Teaching Children Mathematics.  I recommend that prospective math teachers and elementary teachers join while still a student.  It is half price.
• I have Mathematics, Applications and Connections, Books 1,2,3. This series was used by North Thurston a couple of years ago. It has a more traditional approach to the same topics. I think it is quite usable if slanted properly.
• I have MathScape, seeing and tinking mathematically, Grade 8. I used this book last summer for the Math for Teachers summer program. I really like it. I plan to use it next summer.
• I have a bunch of other stuff. Come by and browse.

Books I Checked out of Cascade System