For many teachers, math is not a comfort zone. Even experienced teachers sometimes struggle with how to teach the big ideas in mathematics with a student-centered approach that can both nudge student thinking forward and build essential problem-solving skills. If only there was something out there that helps with both of those concepts in a friendly, easy-to-understand way. Oh, but there is!

"Open Middle Math celebrates that the journey we bring students on in our classroom matters more than the destination.” –Sara Van Der Werf, VanDerWerf Educational Consulting

Recently, we sat down with Robert Kaplinsky to talk about his new book, Open Middle Math: Problems That Unlock Student Thinking, Grades 6–12. Find out how Open Middle math problems can transform your middle and high school math class.

Below is a guest blog from author and math expert, Marian Small. Her new book, Understanding the Math We Teach and How to Teach It is now available for order.

Lots of elementary teachers were not privileged to receive math instruction that built their confidence in math. As a consequence, many of these teachers feel discomfort and stress as they try to teach math in a more meaningful way to their students. They worry! What if they say the wrong thing? What if the students ask them to explain something and they can’t? What if the students say something, and they’re not sure if they are right or wrong? If you are one of the people with those feelings, you are not alone. For so long, math was taught by many as a set of rules without any attempt to make those rules make sense, and many of our teachers are products of that system.

"Open Middle Math celebrates that the journey we bring students on in our classroom matters more than the destination.” –Sara Van Der Werf, VanDerWerf Educational Consulting

Recently, we sat down with Robert Kaplinsky to talk about his new book, Open Middle Math: Problems That Unlock Student Thinking, Grades 6–12. Find out how Open Middle math problems can transform your middle and high school math class.

Below is a guest blog from author and math expert, Marian Small. Her new book, Understanding the Math We Teach and How to Teach It is now available for preorder.

Lots of elementary teachers were not privileged to receive math instruction that built their confidence in math. As a consequence, many of these teachers feel discomfort and stress as they try to teach math in a more meaningful way to their students. They worry! What if they say the wrong thing? What if the students ask them to explain something and they can’t? What if the students say something, and they’re not sure if they are right or wrong? If you are one of the people with those feelings, you are not alone. For so long, math was taught by many as a set of rules without any attempt to make those rules make sense, and many of our teachers are products of that system.