Mathematics for Equity: A Framework for Successful Practice

by Na'ilah Suad Nasir (Editor), Barbara Shreve (Retelling), Carlos Cabana (Revision)

In this book, nationally renowned scholars join classroom teachers to share equity-oriented approaches that have been successful with urban high school mathematics students. Compiling for the first time major research findings and practitioner experiences from Railside High School, the volume describes the evolution of a fundamentally different conception of learners and teaching. The chapters bring together research and reflection on teacher collaboration and professional community, student outcomes and mathematics classroom culture, reform curricula and pedagogy, and ongoing teacher development. Mathematics for Equity will be invaluable reading for teachers, schools, and districts interested in maintaining a focus on equity and improving student learning while making sense of the new demands of the Common Core State Standards.

Genres: Education

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 27, 2014

Reviews

[Mark Schlatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume covers a number of studies and reflections about the mathematics instruction at "Railside High", a school focused on in research by Jo Boaler. I read it more for the case study aspects than the research, and I found a lot that was interesting about teaching mathematics with equity, working together as a mathematics department, and detracking math classes. There's also a heart rending section about how everything fell apart due to decisions made at the district level that made the Railside approach difficult to carry out.

There's some controversy about the Railside studies by Boaler and whether the school actually improved in the ways claimed (including an unreleased paper by some traditionalist California faculty). I was confused when reading about the reports of success that did not lead to the school exiting scrutiny from the district. So, I'm a bit wary of treating the successes reported as gospel. I do think, however, that reading this to understand the Railside pedagogy could be quite helpful.

[Cassie Job · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book. I found it useful to find equity strategies that had already been applied in a real mathematics department. They also include what happened at Railside to make it so teachers could not teach that way anymore--those were all things that happened to me my first year teaching! I had a lot of lightbulbs because of this book and there are a lot of things I want to try.