| Teaching
math to first- through sixth-graders who
struggle with the subject isn't as easy
as adding two and two to get four. And it
doesn't get easier when dealing with decimals
and working through word problems.
Helping teachers overcome these challenges
is the premise behind the new book "Teaching
Children Who Struggle with Mathematics:
A Systematic Approach to Analysis and Correction"
by Helene Sherman, Lloyd Richardson and
George Yard, who are faculty members in
the College of Education at the University
of Missouri-St. Louis.
The book, which was released last month
by Prentice Hall, focuses on ways to adapt
instruction methods to address learning
factors that affect each individual student.
And although the book's target audience
is elementary school teachers, school district
professional development personnel and home-school
instructors, parents also will find the
book to be a valuable resource, Sherman
said.
"Children who find themselves frustrated
by traditional teaching methods tend to
respond positively to alternative approaches
that are carefully designed to address their
overall education needs," Sherman said.
The book includes case studies of underachieving
math students and examples of how teachers
can assess and differentiate instruction
for these students.
There are two key features: the Data Analysis
Sheet and Math Improvement Plan.
The DAS is used to document observed student
behavior in a variety of relevant categories
and assess the student's math skills. The
MIP provides an individualized plan for
instructional intervention.
When used together, the DAS and MIP provide
teachers with two powerful tools for properly
assessing and teaching students who struggle
with math, Sherman said.
"Everybody is a weak student in some
mathematics topics," she said, noting
that many people freely admit that math
is their worst subject. "Mathematics
achievement should be valued as much as
literacy in this country."
Sherman, professor of education at UMSL,
teaches undergraduate and graduate courses
in K-8 mathematics teaching methods. Her
work has been published in numerous professional
educational journals and she has co-written
three books.
Richardson, distinguished teaching professor
of education and mathematics at UMSL, has
38 years of teaching experience. He has
written or co-written numerous professional
journal articles, the Peabody Mathematics
Readiness Test and two books.
Yard, associate professor emeritus of education
at UMSL, taught in the field of behavior
disorders. He has written numerous articles
and has served as editor of The Journal
of the National Association of Adults with
Special Learning Needs.
"Teaching Children Who Struggle with
Mathematics" is available for purchase
for $28 at http://www.prenhall.com and the
UMSL bookstore. |
