NCTM New and Noteworthy

Early in my career, the principal of my school shared The Animal School: A Fable, written in the 1940s by George Reavis, assistant superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools. At the time I was teaching in a fifth-grade self-contained classroom in a K–5 school. That story made a deep impression on me and strongly influenced how I thought about my students—their talents and interests. Read more.

Do your students suppose that 1/3 is greater than 1/2, since 3 is greater than 2? Do they believe that having “halves” means having two, and only two, congruent “pieces” of a whole? This book focuses on the specialized pedagogical content knowledge that you need to teach fractions effectively in grades 3–5. The authors demonstrate how to use this multifaceted knowledge to address the big ideas and essential understandings that students must develop for success with fractions—not only in their current work, but also in higher-level mathematics and a myriad of real-world contexts. Read more.

You need the best strategies to prepare your students for success, and NCTM’s Interactive Institute on High School Mathematics offers a variety of activities and tactics to effectively address the Common Core mathematical practices and NCTM process standards—giving your students better opportunities to examine, interpret, and think critically about math concepts. Immerse yourself in two and a half days of professional development in Washington, DC, August 1–3, and learn the best strategies to prepare your students for success. Register by May 31 and save $40.

This is your last chance to save up to an additional $40! Early-Bird registration has been extended for the New Orleans Institutes until Friday, May 24. The learning begins July 8 to 10, with “Algebra Readiness for Every Student” for grade 6–8 educators, and continues through July 11 to 13 with “Connecting Number and Operations in the Classroom”, for grades PK–5. Register today.

NCTM journals depend on the volunteer efforts of our members. You can help by refereeing manuscripts. A referee writes reviews for manuscripts submitted for publication. After receiving a manuscript, referees have approximately three weeks to return an electronic evaluation. Your efforts will not only help journals but also contribute to your professional development. If you would like to become a referee, you can find information for Mathematics Teacher, for Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, and for Teaching Children Mathematics online.

It takes a mathematical community to develop an eager, confident math learner. What are you doing to build partnerships among school, home, and community to help support children’s mathematical understanding? Stakeholders must work together, but how? The Teaching Children Mathematics Editorial Panel seeks articles for a special Focus Issue on building a mathematical “village” where everyone works together to improve students’ mathematical learning. Learn more. Access http://tcm.msubmit.net to submit your completed manuscript to TCM by July 31, 2013.