Minds on Mathematics: Using Math Workshop to Develop Deep Understanding in Grades 4-8

by Wendy Ward Hoffer

"Here, at last, is a book for teachers who have understood and implemented readers' and writers' workshops, but have struggled to create a manageable math workshop." -Ellin Oliver Keene Why is it that so many of our students don't get math? Wendy Ward Hoffer argues that all learners are capable of deep understanding-but first we must create classrooms where teachers serve as coaches, students engage as a community of learners, and everybody works toward "getting it" together. Minds on Mathematics shows you how. Wendy explains the core elements of math workshop and then provides detailed strategies for implementing the workshop model. Effective routines and abundant examples are provided for each component of the workshop, including Minds on Mathematics shows how to make the workshop model come to life in your math classroom! It proves that when we provide math learning experiences that support students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers, to stretch and think in new ways, and then invite them to communicate their ideas to others, we inspire them to "get" math like never before.

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2012

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for school

This felt a bit redundant based on the other coursework we have done but it still offered useful information for creating a math classroom that empowers students and fosters deeper understanding.
-Loved the sections on differentiation and conferring

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have taught Math workshop in the past, but this was fundamentally different than how I ran it back then. A must read if you are interested in running a math workshop grounded in conceptual understanding.

[Sbwisni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obsessed with the first half of this book. Had to make myself stop reading it, because I had too many ideas to share with teachers during DOK gifted PD. 2nd half wasn’t quite as jam-packed, but still good. Great resource! With launch points in the back to other great resources, too.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because of my own previous experience of math workshop and its reliability in student achievement (students actually learned their maths and could write about mathematics), I read this book. And because of my enthusiasm of the math workshop, another teacher and I are integrating some of the practices in her daily classwork in order to encourage other teachers to use this approach in their math classes. Her math setting is in elementary school with students in 4-5th grade. She is encouraged with results, thus far, only into a month of changed processes. Even the students are liking the approach. We are hoping that between the two of us we can get other teachers on board at our school. With teachers using an online math curriculum, PMI, students do not have much interaction with each for deep problem solving. Yes, they get pretty solid math instruction with the teacher, but their is not an integrated approach to applying the mathematics learned in problem-based settings.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was validating and clarifying but there was nothing new or shocking in here. That's a good thing!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great guide for creating a learner centered classroom.

[Nancy (Colorado) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Math Workshop Model is AWESOME!! So glad to be part of a year long training!

[Mary Beth Revesz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good ideas to implement a math workshop at an upper elementary/middle school level.