What's Your Strategy?

Teachers must meet the needs of all students in their mathematics instruction.  This can be a challenge as students are very diverse in their conceptual knowledge and skills.  What’s Your Strategy? is written by three teachers that share their instructional strategies which have helped students achieve in the classroom and become mathematically literate.

This book has a unique format.  It is written by teachers for teachers, highlighting an effective model of instruction that the authors developed.  The program has significantly changed how students learn math.  The chapters address how students construct knowledge, how teachers can enhance math lessons, and personal vignettes of student learning are shared.

The first part provides teachers with practical explanations of how to create and sustain a classroom where students build strategies to become effective problem-solvers.  The second half of the book has many strategic math games, lessons, partner activities and resources to enhance math instruction.  The appendix contains many variations of number charts, student and parent surveys, performance assessments, and templates for organizing lessons.  Many of the activities are differentiated for various levels of learning.  If you are seeking a way to ensure that all of your students succeed in math and enjoy it, this book will be extremely beneficial.

Brooke LeVecchi, Karen Mirkovich, and Victoria Wilcox are teachers in the Prince William County School District in Virginia.  Victoria and Karen are Elementary Math Specialists, and also provide Math Recovery and Knowing Math Intervention services in their respective schools.  Brooke teaches second grade.  They have presented at various local, state, and national conferences, written math curriculum and designed assessment items for their school division.  The authors have developed an elementary model of math instruction that has been implemented in their public school division.  They have worked with math supervisors to enhance countywide math initiatives.

Victoria and Karen have worked as instructional support specialist to provide modeled lessons and mentor teachers.  They have taught graduate math course through George Mason University for elementary educators.  Victoria and Karen have been finalists for the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year Award.  Karen Mirkovich is a National Board Certified Teacher.