Math Misconceptions, PreK-Grade 5: From Misunderstanding to Deep Understanding

by Steven Leinwand, Christine Oberdorf, Karren Schultz-Ferrell

"In this wonderfully insightful book, Honi, Christine, and Karren not only describe a vast array of perfectly understandable mathematical misconceptions that students have across the elementary curriculum, they also provide numerous practical instructional strategies and activities for helping remediate and "undo" the misconceptions. The classroom vignettes they describe will ring true to everyone who has tried to teach mathematics to young, and not-so-young, children."
-Steven Leinwand Children enter school filled with all kinds of ideas about numbers, shapes, measuring tools, time, and money-ideas formed from the expressions they hear...the things they see on television...the computer screen...in children's books...all around them. It's no wonder some children develop very interesting and perhaps incorrect ideas about mathematical concepts. "How can we connect the informal knowledge that students bring to our classrooms with the mathematics program adopted by our school system? Just as important, how do we ensure that the mathematics we are introducing and reinforcing is accurate and will not need to be re-taught in later years?" Math Misconceptions answers these questions Using classroom vignettes that highlight common misconceptions in each content area, followed by applicable research about the root causes of the confusion, the authors offer numerous instructional ideas and interventions designed to prevent or correct the misconception. Untangle your students' math misconceptions. This practical resource will help make it all make sense, and raise math achievement in your classroom. Related , Grades PreK-2 , Grades 3-5

Genres: Teaching

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2010

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

After years of teaching elementary school, most of these misconceptions are ones I have seen repeatedly and know to expect and plan for and address. However, there were still many great ideas for addressing these misconceptions, additional ways for me to help students deepen their conceptual understanding of mathematics and ways to refine my instruction. Worth reading. This would be especially valuable for newer elementary school teachers.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going out on a limb here, a very strong limb, to say this is the BEST math resource I have ever come across in my years of teaching and resources I've read.

Not only did I read it to help me study for the math portion of my Boards test, but most importantly I read this to improve my math teaching and knowledge.

This text is laid in one of the friendliest and easiest formats I've come across. It lays out the basics, the research, scenarios, and them numerous activities to undo misconceptions. Perfection! I also purchased the Activities to Undo Misconceptions, which goes into more detail and gives black line masters. These two texts are well worth the purchase! I can't believe no one told me about them sooner.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way of organizing the book. Vignette, research, instructional ideas. great resource!