The Problem with Math Is English: A Language-Focused Approach to Helping All Students Develop a Deeper Understanding of Mathematics - Paperback

by Concepcion Molina (Author)

Teaching K-12 math becomes an easier task when everyone understands the language, symbolism, and representation of math concepts

Published in partnership with SEDL, The Problem with Math Is English illustrates how students often understand fundamental mathematical concepts at a superficial level. Written to inspire ?aha? moments, this book enables teachers to help students identify and comprehend the nuances and true meaning of math concepts by exploring them through the lenses of language and symbolism, delving into such essential topics as multiplication, division, fractions, place value, proportional reasoning, graphs, slope, order of operations, and the distributive property.

• Offers a new way to approach teaching math content in a way that will improve how all students, and especially English language learners, understand math
  
• Emphasizes major attributes of conceptual understanding in mathematics, including simple yet deep definitions of key terms, connections among key topics, and insightful interpretation

This important new book fills a gap in math education by illustrating how a deeper knowledge of math concepts can be developed in all students through a focus on language and symbolism.

Front Jacket

Published in partnership with SEDL, The Problem with Math Is English illustrates how students often understand fundamental mathematical concepts at only a superficial level. Written to inspire aha moments, this important new book offers teachers the tools they need to help their students identify and comprehend the nuances and true meanings of essential math concepts--such as multiplication, division, fractions, place value, and much more--by exploring them through the lenses of language and symbolism.

The Problem with Math Is English explains how language-focused conceptual instruction leads students to a deeper understanding than traditional procedural-based teaching methods. By placing emphasis on truly understanding math concepts, Dr. Molina shows that teaching math becomes easier when teachers are able to communicate the language, symbolism, and representation of math to all of their students.

Teachers of mathematics of all levels who read and spend time with this fun and challenging book will strengthen their content knowledge and find confidence in their own ability to think and reason. When teachers truly understand and embrace the mathematics/language connections so richly illustrated in the book, they will be able to pass on to all of their students a depth of mathematical insight and joy they may never have imagined before.

--Cindy Chapman, Mathematics Education Consultant; past member, NCTM Board of Directors

In this easy to read book, Como Molina--with rare humor, insight and thoughtfulness--shares many of the lessons he has learned while providing professional development for mathematics teachers in U.S. public schools. Como delightfully challenged my own understandings of the important relationships between mathematical ideas and the language we commonly use to teach them.

--Dr. Stephen Marble, Associate Professor of Education, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX

Back Jacket

Published in partnership with SEDL, The Problem with Math Is English illustrates how students often understand fundamental mathematical concepts at only a superficial level. Written to inspire "aha" moments, this important new book offers teachers the tools they need to help their students identify and comprehend the nuances and true meanings of essential math concepts--such as multiplication, division, fractions, place value, and much more--by exploring them through the lenses of language and symbolism.

The Problem with Math Is English explains how language-focused conceptual instruction leads students to a deeper understanding than traditional procedural-based teaching methods. By placing emphasis on truly understanding math concepts, Dr. Molina shows that teaching math becomes easier when teachers are able to communicate the language, symbolism, and representation of math to all of their students.

"Teachers of mathematics of all levels who read and spend time with this fun and challenging book will strengthen their content knowledge and find confidence in their own ability to think and reason. When teachers truly understand and embrace the mathematics/language connections so richly illustrated in the book, they will be able to pass on to all of their students a depth of mathematical insight and joy they may never have imagined before."

--Cindy Chapman, Mathematics Education Consultant; past member, NCTM Board of Directors

"In this easy to read book, Como Molina--with rare humor, insight and thoughtfulness--shares many of the lessons he has learned while providing professional development for mathematics teachers in U.S. public schools. Como delightfully challenged my own understandings of the important relationships between mathematical ideas and the language we commonly use to teach them."

--Dr. Stephen Marble, Associate Professor of Education, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX

Author Biography

Concepcion Molina, Ed.D., is a program associate with SEDL, a private, nonprofit education research, development, and dissemination corporation based in Austin, Texas. Dr. Molina supports systemic reform efforts in mathematics and works to assist state and intermediate education agencies in their efforts to improve instruction and student achievement.