denny Study & Teaching books

Teaching the Common Core Math Standards with Hands-On Activities, Grades 6-8 (Jossey-Bass Teacher)

The new Common Core State Standards for Mathematics have been formulated to provide students with instruction that will help them acquire a thorough knowledge of math at their grade level, which will in turn enable them to move on to higher mathematics with competence and confidence. Hands-on Activities for Teaching the Common Core Math Standards is designed to help teachers instruct their students so that they will better understand and apply the skills outlined in the Standards.

This important resource also gives teachers a wealth of tools and activities that can encourage students to think critically, use mathematical reasoning, and employ various problem-solving strategies.

• Filled with activities that will help students gain an understanding of math concepts and skills correlated to the Common Core State Math Standards
• Offers guidance for helping students apply their understanding of math concepts and skills, develop proficiency in calculations, and learn to think abstractly
• Describes ways to get students to collaborate with other students, utilize technology, communicate ideas about math both orally and in writing, and gain an appreciation of the significance of mathematics to real life

This practical and easy-to-use resource will help teachers give students the foundation they need for success in higher mathematics. ...Read more

Lesson Study Step by Step: How Teacher Learning Communities Improve Instruction

"At a time when so many educational policies fail to recognize and nurture the capacity of teachers to improve instruction, we feel enormously grateful for the learning community lesson study has brought to us."

-Catherine Lewis and Jacqueline Hurd

It's a simple idea:if we want to improve instruction, what could be more obvious than collaborating with fellow teachers to plan instruction and examine its impact on students?Lesson Study empowers teachers to improve instruction.Unlike one-size-fits-all professional development, Lesson Study allows teachers to bring their own pressing needs to the table.They seek out answers from one another, from outside specialists and research, and from careful study of students during lessons that incorporate teachers' collective knowledge.The result is a shared vision of good instruction.

Lesson Study Step-By-Step shows new groups of teachers how to begin this journey, and experienced teams how to to deepen their work.It provides guidance through each step of the Lesson Study process, from building a group and homing in on a topic to conducting and reflecting on a research lesson.Strategies and materials are provided to support you each step of the way, including:

a schedule for the overall process

sample meeting agendas

protocols for observation and discussion of lessons

templates for development of the research theme and teaching-learning plan

suggested processes for norm-setting and effective group management.

A DVD allows you to explore video of teachers engaged in a mathematics lesson study cycle.

At a time when so many school districts are already suffering from reform overload, why is Lesson Study so important? Because it supplies a key missing element in reform:a means to improving teaching and learning through a shared professional knowledge base.Lesson Study, Step-by-Step shows us how to make our schools places where we will all continue to learn.