There is a growing interest in using a flipped classroom format in day-to-day teaching. Direct computer-based individual instruction outside the classroom and interactive group learning activities inside the classroom are the two essential components of the flipped classroom model. By watching instructional videos, students can work through some…

Magic captivates humans because of their innate capacity to be intrigued and a desire to resolve their curiosity. In a mathematics classroom, algorithms akin to magic tricks can be an effective tool to engage students in thinking and problem solving. Tricks that rely on the power of mathematics are especially suitable for students to experience an…

Mathematical argumentation is an essential part of the discipline of mathematics and a key indicator of mathematical proficiency. In the process of constructing arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others, students build their understanding of underlying mathematical ideas and engage in critical sense-making activity (Yackel and Hanna 2003).…

The Tower of Hanoi is an old, popular, and engaging puzzle. It is an exceptional puzzle too considering how effective it can be in engendering multiple valuable outcomes when used as a tool for learning. One of the fundamental goals of mathematics teacher preparation is to enable the prospective teacher to develop mathematical habits of mind and…

This article highlights three of the eight Mathematics Teaching Practices (MTP) published in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM's) "Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All" (2014): (1) facilitating meaningful mathematical discourse (MTP 4); (2) posing purposeful questions (MTP 5); and (3)…

Mistakes can be a source of frustration for teachers and students in mathematics classrooms because they reveal potential misunderstandings or a lack of learning. However, increasing evidence shows that making mistakes creates productive pathways for learning new ideas and building new concepts (Boaler 2016; Borasi 1996). Learning through…

Constructing viable arguments and reasoning abstractly is an essential part of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSI 2010). This article discusses the scenarios in which a mathematical task is impossible to accomplish, as well as how to approach impossible scenarios in the classroom. The concept of proof is introduced as the…

Top-down implementation of technology is one of the most pervasive phenomena of the last couple of decades in educational history. It is the subject of many books, articles, and blog posts on how to fix schools or why educational technology is not working in the classroom. The idea of providing teachers with technology so they can make students…

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 2000) states, "Technology is essential in teaching and learning mathematics; it influences the mathematics that is taught and enhances students' learning." The focus on reasoning and sense making with technology in the lesson presented in this article will enable students to do more…

The American educational landscape is changing rapidly, and so are the students in American mathematics classrooms. In the New York City public schools, one of every four students is an English language learner (ELL) (New York City Department of Education 2014). Mathematics teachers find themselves teaching either in a classroom that contains all…

For many the phrase "teaching math online" evokes a vision of teaching and learning that is not based in physical classrooms. Perhaps teachers and students are even interacting asynchronously. In math classrooms in the United States, the increasing availability of devices (e.g. laptops, Chromebooks™, smartphones, and tablets) and…

Assessment and instruction are interwoven in mathematically rich formative assessment tasks, so employing these tasks in the classrooms is an exciting and time-efficient opportunity. To provide a window into how these tasks work in the classroom, this article analyzes summaries of student work on such a task and considers several students'…

To create a classroom learning community in which all students are engaged and inspired, a mathematics teacher's mastery of the content must be matched by an awareness of the needs of individual students and an understanding of the instructional strategies that will enable all learners to develop their mathematical knowledge and skills. Yet when…

In 2015, mathematics leaders and instructors from the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP), with input from NCTM, came together to write the "Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Mathematical Modeling Education" (GAIMME) report as a resource for…

Mathematical modeling, in which students use mathematics to explain or interpret physical, social, or scientific phenomena, is an essential component of the high school curriculum. The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) classify modeling as a K-12 standard for mathematical practice and as a conceptual category for high school…