mathematizing4all

Of course I have been wondering this since the book was published. Last week I heard from a group of secondary teachers in the Poway Unified School District who were reading it together on Friday afternoons (!) with Math TOSA Traci Jackson. She sent me their final reflections (with their permission):

I just wanted to let you know the impact your book had on teachers in our district! Here are a few quotes on how the book shifted their thinking!

How has your thinking changed after reading this book? I used to think ________, and now I think__________

I used to think that neurodiverse students should have simpler arithmetic in their problems because it’s otherwise too complicated for them. Now I know that they can demonstrate mathematical thinking through various representations if given the opportunity.

I used to think that just students with disabilities needed the extra support, and various methods of teaching were doing more for students with disabilities only, now I think that the practices that I do in L/Strats can be integrated into the Math curriculum to make the content more accessible and fun for students to learn.

I used to think that you needed to really differentiate when teaching students with disabilities. What I learned that the strategies that work well for students with disabilities are also great for all students. I found that using some of the strategies I learned about in the book greatly benefited my general ed students as much as it did for my students with disabilities.

I used to think I had to change a lot of my lessons for my collab classes, and now I think making small adjustments that help all students is most effective.

I used to think math was difficult to understand, and now I think there are different ways of learning to better understand and explain my mathematical reasoning.

I used to think I was great at designing lessons and policies for all students, and now I think I’m pretty good at it but definitely have room to grow.

I used to think that guided strategic thinking was more so directed teaching, and now I think that it can be a combination of directed teaching and independent discovery.

I used to think I was off base about using mathematical practices to write goals, and now I think I am on the right path and need to devote more time on this again

I used to think students needed to adapt to my classroom, and now I realize more than ever it is my duty to adapt to their needs.

I used to think there was a limited way of supporting students with IEPs, now I think there are an endless amount of ways I can support students with IEPs thanks to this TLC.

I cannot express enough how great it is to hear how the book influenced others. What I find really exciting, and totally wild, is how teachers get something that connects to what they know and what they already do and what they are currently working on in their practice. When we read a book about teaching, we take some parts, basically ignore others, right? And so I love seeing what the takes are from the book- what really engaged readers and met them where they are . . .