Additional information
by Jen Munson (Author), Jennifer Langer-Osuna (Author), Faith Kwon (Author)
What is a collaborative math classroom? Peek inside one and you'll find an equitable, dynamic, student-centered math classroom based on exploration, shared thinking, and dialogue. Instead of explaining procedures, the teacher curates and facilitates rich mathematical experiences that students engage in together. Students learn not just mathematical ideas, but also how to do mathematics together-posing and making sense of problems and experiencing themselves and one another as mathematical contributors and thinkers. As students interact with the classroom environment, each other, and mathematics itself, they explore and investigate big mathematical ideas and build reasoning and conceptual understanding.
Do you want to launch a collaborative math classroom, but you're not sure how or where to start? The Collaborative Math Classroom is a practical guide to starting this work, outlining exactly how teachers can launch and cultivate a collaborative, student-centered math classroom. You will find clear suggestions to help you get started and establish a structure, along with ideas of what to look for, signs to celebrate, answers to questions, and a variety of resources, all drawn from classroom experience and backed by research. The authors provide key goals for developing students' interactions with the environment, each other, and mathematics, and how teachers can plan for, launch, and develop classroom communities that help meet those goals.
Creating a collaborative math classroom is engaging, ambitious, and often joyful work. The details vary from year to year, grade to grade, and classroom to classroom, but the work can happen in any classroom-including yours.
Author Biography
Jen Munson is an assistant professor of learning sciences at Northwestern University studying interactions and learning in the math classroom. She is a former classroom teacher and professional developer who has worked with teachers and school leaders across the U.S. to develop responsive, equitable mathematics instruction. Jen received her PhD in mathematics education from Stanford University. She is also coauthor of the Mindset Mathematics curriculum series.
Jennifer M. Osuna is an assistant professor of elementary mathematics education at Stanford University, where she directs the Stanford Identity, Engagement, and Learning lab and teaches in the Stanford Teacher Education Program.
Faith Kwon is a doctoral candidate at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, studying race, inequality, and language in elementary mathematics education. Formerly, she was a primary grades teacher, instructional coach, and district professional developer.
Mary Trinkle has been in education for more than ten years as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. She is currently the Transitional Kindergarten through fifth grade math coach for her school district, supporting all teachers in the elementary schools.
