How can middle school mathematics teachers navigate their roles as authorities in managing classroom democracies while providing their students with opportunities to exercise their rights? The concept of complementarity (Vithal, 1999) acknowledges that a teacher's authority is not always in conflict with students' rights or agency, but instead a…

When the author returned to teaching after several years in graduate school, she came armed with knowledge and visions of a student-centered classroom. Her experiences in a doctoral program taught her much about effective mathematics instruction and rekindled her desire to teach. However, a student-centered classroom reflected a major shift in…

According to the author's website, Danica McKellar's first book is meant to serve as a resource for middle school girls to help them understand math concepts that are commonly confusing. This review will explore McKellar's use of mathematical contexts for presenting mathematical content and consider how these contexts may or may not limit the ways…

This REL Mid-Atlantic Event focused on effective strategies for screening, instruction, and differentiation of instruction as part of math RtI implementation. The Q&A presented in this document address the questions participants had for Dr. Clarke and Dr. Riccomini following the event. Dr. Clarke's and Dr. Riccomini's PowerPoint presentations…

Improving student learning is the primary goal of every teacher of algebra. Teachers seek strategies to help all students learn important algebra content and develop mathematical practices. The new Institute of Education Sciences[IES] practice guide, "Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle and High School Students"…

In this webinar, Dr. Sarah Catherine K. Moore, Program Director at the Center for Applied Linguistics, outlined factors for content area teachers to consider as they design and deliver lessons for mainstream classrooms that include English learner (EL) students. This Q&A addressed the questions participants had for Dr. Moore following the…

This article describes how the teachers in a sixth grade mathematics inclusion class used differentiated instruction to better meet the needs of all learners in the classroom. In an inclusion class with students of mixed abilities, differentiated instruction allows the teacher to meet the needs of every learner by providing students with multiple…

This webinar explored how the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) provide an instructional framework to support professional growth and inform teacher evaluation systems for science instruction. This Q&A addressed the questions participants had for Dr. Wilson and Jody Bintz following the webinar. The webinar recording and PowerPoint…

In her more than 30 years of teaching, the author has practiced differentiation in her own classroom at all educational levels. Although she is well familiar with the vocabulary, research and reasoning behind it, the most compelling answer she can give for why differentiation matters in the middle grades comes from her personal experience as an…

Outlines a theoretical foundation for a hermeneutical analysis of discourse in middle school mathematics classes. Presents examples of classroom discourse to illustrate the ways in which beliefs about mathematics and mathematical structure are communicated and ways in which appreciation of justification in mathematical discussion develops. (MDH)

In this paper, the author describes his experiences after relocating to a new school. He explains that starting at a new school is a different experience than being a first year teacher, and that becoming a part of the team is not a one-day process.

Describes the components of, and theoretical/research bases for, learning cycle pedagogy, which is especially appropriate for the special needs of the middle-school student. Three stages of the learning cycle are exploration, conceptual invention, and expansion. (Author/MKR)

Discusses features of the Algebra Project, whose goals include a minimum standard of mathematical literacy for minority students and strong community involvement. (MKR)

The Commentary salutes AMATYC for its significant contributions to standards-based education in mathematics and discusses possible audiences for Beyond Crossroads, in addition to the primary audience of faculty members and departments in two-year institutions. Because Beyond Crossroads focuses on lower division college mathematics, it helps…

Discusses briefly current trends and innovations in curriculum, instruction, and assessment for middle school mathematics. (SR)