Sensible Mathematics: A Guide for School Leaders in the Era of Common Core State Standards

by Steven J. Leinwand

"The fact that, for the first time, the U.S. has what is essentially a national curriculum, equivalent in quality to what is found in the highest scoring countries in the world, means that the focus of leadership can finally shift from arguing about what math to teach, to how best to teach the agreed upon content to all students." --Steven Leinwand Providing effective leadership for school mathematics programs is particularly challenging in an era of both ambitious Common Core State Standards and unprecedented pressure to raise mathematics achievement. In this updated edition of the bestselling "Sensible Mathematics," Steve Leinwand provides principals, teacher leaders, math coaches and administrators with specific guidance on how to make the necessary shifts in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development to meet and exceed the Common Core State Standards in mathematics. Even more important, he shows us why these changes are so urgently needed if we truly are to prepare students to become mathematical thinkers in a 21st century world.

Making these critical shifts requires strong, clear, and effective leadership. "Sensible Mathematics" serves as a guiding light through the sea of change and provides a broad array of practical strategies for implementing the standards, as well as how-to game plans for overcoming obstacles and challenges. Other topics of discussion include: Making the case for change: strategies, ammunition, and compelling examples 10 characteristics of sensible, sense-making mathematics Math Coaches: how to recruit the best and support their efforts Intervention: providing effective support services Technology and instruction: providing access for teachers and students 15 key components of a high performance mathematics program Success stories: school leaders who made a difference

"Sensible Mathematics" is a call-to-arms for positive, realistic change that empowers teachers and prepares students for our changing world. Make a difference-move your school mathematics program into the 21st century.

Genres: Education

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2000

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leinwand has created a practical guide to how school leaders can and should support reform in mathematics education. He uses the "baby and the bath water" as a metaphor for the things that modern math curriculum need to keep and to throw out. The most specific example that he uses several times through out the book is related to computation. He argues effectively that calculators and computers have made multi-digit paper and pencil computations "bath water," but single digit multiplication by three or four digits and division by a single digit are "baby" because they can be used to build conceptual understanding and estimation skills necessary for using and making sense of the operations with a calculator. He then goes on to give concrete but fairly general advise about the ideas, structures, and policies that should be in place to support change in classroom experiences for children. Overall, I agree whole-heartedly with his concept of "Sensible Mathematics" and the ideas for supporting the change are good. But in general they are too thin to build a robust change effort on alone. They are more a framework, that requires a good bit of creation to make practical, but I suppose that is necessary to make a book like this accessible to so many different readers.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like what this book has to say. Now to use/internalize 10% of it and I will be happy. Math instruction isn't what it used to be as the times change so does how we teach mathematics change.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our math coach is going to want to completely change our math program and fire our math consultant.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for educational leaders