Upper Elementary Math Lessons

This book provides descriptive cases, accompanied by analytic commentaries, of nine upper-elementary grade mathematics lessons that represent an array of sound teaching practices. The cases focus on various mathematics topics and were written from authentic lessons taught by regular classroom teachers to diverse groups of students. Each lesson contains elements of sound instructional practice as well as potential dilemmas from which both preservice and in-service teachers can benefit.

Engaging students in worthwhile learning requires more than a knowledge of underlying principles of good teaching. It demands considerable practice as well as images of what good teaching in particular situations and for particular purposes might look like. This volume provides these images. These cases were written from authentic, unrehearsed lessons taught by upper-elementary classroom teachers to diverse groups of real students in intact classrooms. Each lesson contains elements of sound instructional practice from which both preservice and in-service teachers can benefit. Cases are not meant to be ideal, but rather to evoke ways of seeing and thinking about good classroom instruction for all learners. Accompanied by analytic commentaries from experts representing a particular perspective, such as special education and ESOL, these unrehearsed cases are written with the understanding that teaching is complex and multi-dimensional. The cases are drawn from a four-year study of 4th and 5th grade mathematics instruction of culturally diverse classrooms with relatively high rates of students from low-income families.