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The Mathematics Lesson-Planning Handbook, Grades K-2
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The Mathematics Lesson-Planning Handbook, Grades K-2
Your Blueprint for Building Cohesive Lessons

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March 2018 | 248 pages | Corwin

“This book brings together the best of Visible Learning and the teaching of mathematics. The chapters on learning intentions, success criteria, misconceptions, formative evaluation, and knowing thy impact are stunning. Rich in exemplars, grounded in research about practice, and with the right balance about the surface and deep learning in math, it's a great go-to book for all who teach mathematics.”
—John Hattie, Laureate Professor, Deputy Dean of MGSE, Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute, Melbourne Graduate School of Education

Your blueprint to planning K-2 math lessons for maximum impact and understanding

Not sure of tomorrow morning’s lesson plan? Or maybe you feel it isn’t tailored enough for your students’ needs. What do you do? For that and more, help is here. The Mathematics Lesson-Planning Handbook, Grades K-2: Your Blueprint for Building Cohesive Lessons guides teachers step-by-step through the decision-making process of planning K-2 math lessons that are purposeful, rigorous, and coherent. 

Instructional experts Beth McCord Kobett, Ruth Harbin Miles, and Lois A. Williams streamline and deepen the lesson-planning process showing teachers how to access students' complex needs, clarify learning intentions, and select tasks that will best lead to student understanding of mathematical concepts and skills. Along the way, teachers create an individualized blueprint for planning K-2 math lessons for maximum student learning.  

The lesson-planning process guides teachers to:   

  • Identify the mathematical content, language, and social learning intentions for a lesson or unit, and connect goals to success criteria
  • Determine the purpose of a math lesson you’re planning by distinguishing between conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and transfer
  • Select worthwhile tasks and materials that make the best use of representations, manipulatives, and other instructional tools and resources
  • Choose the format of your lesson using reasoning and number routines, games, whole-class discussion, and pairs, or small-group work
  • Anticipate student misconceptions and evaluate understanding using a variety of formative assessment techniques
  • Decide how you’ll launch your lesson, facilitate questioning, encourage productive struggle, and close your lesson

Included is a lesson-planning template and examples from kindergarten, first-, and second-grade classrooms. Chapter by chapter, the decision-making strategies empower teachers to plan math lessons strategically, to teach with intention and confidence, and to build an exceptional foundation in math for all students.  

 


 
Book at a Glance
 
Praise Page
 
Acknowledgments
 
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
 
Letter to K–2 Teachers
 
Letter to Elementary Principals
 
Letter to Mathematics Coaches
 
Letter to Preservice College and University Instructors
 
How to Use This Book
 
Part I: You Are the Architect of Your Classroom
 
Chapter 1: Surveying Your Site: Knowing Your Students
Why Is It So Important to Know Your Students?

 
What Do Access and Equity Really Mean?

 
What Is Prior Knowledge in Mathematics?

 
What Do Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students Need?

 
What Do Students Living in Poverty Need?

 
What Are Learning Needs?

 
What Are the Common Themes?

 
 
Chapter 2: Your K–2 Blueprint: Planning Mathematics Lessons for Coherence, Rigor, and Purpose
What Is Coherence?

 
What Is Rigor?

 
What Is the Purpose of a Lesson?

 
What Is Conceptual Understanding?

 
What Is Procedural Fluency?

 
What Is Transfer?

 
How Can You Ensure that You Plan Lessons for Coherence, Rigor, and Purpose?

 
Lesson-Planning Template

 
 
Part II: Drafting Your K–2 Blueprint
Chapter 3: Laying Your Foundation: It Starts with Big Ideas, Essential Questions, and Standards

 
What Are State Standards for Mathematics?

 
What Are Essential Questions?

 
What Are Process Standards?

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Big Ideas, Essential Questions, and Standards

 
First Grade Snapshot: Big Ideas, Essential Questions, and Standards

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Big Ideas, Essential Questions, and Standards

 
Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 4: Reinforcing Your Plan: Learning Intentions and Success Criteria
What Are Learning Intentions?

 
What Are Mathematics Learning Intentions?

 
What Are Language and Social Learning Intentions?

 
How Do You Communicate Learning Intentions with Students?

 
What Are Success Criteria?

 
How Do Learning Intentions Connect to the Success Criteria?

 
When Should Learning Intentions and Success Criteria Be Shared with Students?

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

 
First Grade Snapshot: Learning Intentions and Success Criteria Decision-Making Snapshot

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

 
Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 5: Deciding on Purpose: Why Are You Building This Lesson?
What Is the Role of a Conceptual Understanding Lesson?

 
What Is Procedural Fluency, and How Does It Build from a Conceptual Understanding Lesson?

 
How Do You Know if You Need a Conceptual Understanding or Procedural Fluency Lesson?

 
How Do You Create a Transfer Lesson?

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Lesson Purpose

 
First Grade Snapshot: Lesson Purpose

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Lesson Purpose

 
Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 6: Choosing Tasks: The Heart of a Lesson
Why Are Tasks Important?

 
What Is a Worthwhile Task?

 
How Do You Adapt Tasks?

 
What Are Some Sources for Worthwhile Tasks?

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Task Selection

 
First Grade Snapshot: Task Selection

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Task Selection

 
Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 7: Choosing Materials: Representations, Manipulatives, and Other Resources.
What Is the Role of Representations in Mathematics Lessons?

 
What Is a Manipulative?

 
How Are Manipulatives Used?

 
What Are Other Resources?

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Material Selection

 
First Grade Snapshot: Material Selection

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Material Selection

 
Second Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 8: Cementing the Cracks: Anticipating Student Thinking
What Are Misconceptions, and Where Do They Come From?

 
How Can You Plan to Minimize Misconceptions?

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Student Thinking

 
First Grade Snapshot: Student Thinking

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Student Thinking

 
Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 9: Framing the Lesson: Formats
What Are Some Different Lesson Formats?

 
4-Part Lesson Plan

 
Game Format

 
Small-Group Instruction

 
Pairs

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Lesson Format

 
First Grade Snapshot: Lesson Formats

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Lesson Formats

 
Under Construction

 
Chapter 10: Evaluating Impact: Formative Assessment

 
What Is Formative Assessment?

 
What Are Specific Formative Assessment Techniques?

 
Observation

 
Interview

 
Show Me

 
Hinge Questions

 
Exit Tasks

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Formative Assessment

 
First Grade Snapshot: Formative Assessment

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Formative Assessment

 
Under Construction

 
 
Part III: Pulling All the Pieces Together
 
Chapter 11: Planning to Launch the Lesson
What Is a Lesson Launch?

 
How Can You Launch a Problem-Solving Lesson?

 
See, Think, and Wonder Lesson Launch

 
Notice and Wonder® Lesson Launch

 
Numberless Word Problem Lesson Launch

 
What Kinds of Lesson Launches Focus on Mathematics Concepts?

 
One of These Things Is Not Like the Others

 
What Are Number Routine Lesson Launches?

 
Counting Jar

 
Number Paths and Number Lines

 
Number Talks

 
What Do You Anticipate Students Will Do?

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Launch the Lesson

 
First Grade Snapshot: Launch the Lesson

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Launch the Lesson

 
Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 12: Planning to Facilitate the Lesson
What Is Mathematical Communication?

 
How Do You Facilitate Meaningful Mathematical Discourse?

 
How Do You Plan for and Pose Purposeful Questions?

 
How Do You Facilitate Productive Struggle?

 
How Do You Make Sure You Engage Students in the Process Standards as You Facilitate the Lesson

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Kindergarten Snapshot: Facilitate the Lesson

 
First Grade Snapshot: Facilitate the Lesson

 
Second Grade Snapshot: Facilitate the Lesson

 
Snapshot

 
Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 13: Planning to Close the Lesson
Why Do You Need Closure in a Lesson?

 
What Are Some Different Closure Activities?

 
Building Unit Coherence

 
Snapshots

 
Under Construction

 
 
Chapter 14: Surveying Your Results: Lesson Reflection
Why Is It Important to Reflect upon Lessons?

 
What Kind of Reflection Cycle Supports Teacher Growth?

 
 
Epilogue
 
Resources:
 
Appendix A: Lesson-Planning Template
 
Appendix B: Further Reading/Resources
 
Appendix C: Glossary
 
References
 
About the Authors

“This book brings together the best of Visible Learning and the teaching of mathematics. The chapters on learning intentions, success criteria, misconceptions, formative evaluation, and knowing thy impact are stunning. Rich in exemplars, grounded in research about practice, and with the right balance about the surface and deep learning in math. A great go-to book for all who teach mathematics.”

John Hattie, Laureate Professor, Deputy Dean of MGSE, Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute
Melbourne Graduate School of Education

“This handbook supports teachers in moving from pacing to planning instruction by providing the tools needed to ensure that mathematics lessons work for every student. More important, it will engage teachers in the critical process of continual improvement. It is a must-have for teachers, leaders, and mathematics educators alike!”

Matt Larson, President
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

“Often teachers entering the classroom have had little opportunity for extensive lesson planning in their preparation programs. Throughout the book, definitions and explanations are clear so that readers share a common understanding of the language.  As a teacher reads, the vignettes encourage the reader to reflect on similar situations in their own classrooms. The well-written questions included in the text will help guide teachers to personal insights that ultimate lead to increased student learning.”

Connie S. Schrock
Emporia State University, NCSM President 2017-2019

“We all know that good instruction is well-planned instruction.  We also know that effective lesson planning is a complicated decision-making process. This incredibly practical book –filled with delightful vignettes and clarifying examples–provides powerful ideas and structures for simplifying the complexities of planning great K-2 mathematics lessons.  This book is a wonderful resource for teachers, coaches, administrators and teacher educators.” 

Steve Leinwand
American Institutes for Research

“Finally! The Mathematics Lesson-Planning Handbook offers that necessary blueprint for serious analysis of the planning process. Planning to teach mathematics is serious business, and this book goes way beyond thinking about the mathematics standard/objective for the next day’s lesson, or jotting notes for a planning book. The Handbook will truly engage teachers and communities of learning in a carefully choreographed grade-level designated thread of mathematics tasks, which serve as anchors for developing understanding and use of each aspect of the planning process. This book is a treasure, and will be read, re-read, and referenced daily!” 

Francis (Skip) Fennell, Professor of Education, Past-President
McDaniel College, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators

“Your Blueprint for Building Cohesive Lessons is a comprehensive and practical guide for coaches and teachers of mathematics in grades K-2.  It provides the background that teachers need before they even begin to write a lesson plan! It then incorporates the research on what teachers need to think about as they begin to lay out a plan for instruction that will meet the needs of all K-2 students and moves on to effective facilitation. This guide provides a roadmap to planning effective lessons that will provide the essential foundation to ensure that all primary level students begin their mathematics journey with high quality teaching and learning. This book is a must for every K-2 teacher, coach or school’s professional library!

Linda M. Gojak, Past President
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

“One of the hallmarks of accomplished K-2 teachers of mathematics is the guidance they provide to help students own how to learn. In The Mathematics Lesson-Planning Handbook: Your Blueprint for Building Cohesive Lessons, authors Kobett, Miles and Williams provide a clear, engaging, and masterful roadmap for helping each and every teacher own the lessons they design and use each and every day. The authors reveal the purposes, the success criteria, and the nature of the mathematical tasks and materials to be chosen. They describe in detail the student engagement necessary to design daily mathematics lessons that will significantly impact student learning. Reading, listening to, and using their wisdom and advice will result in an empowering impact on each and every teacher and teacher leader of K-2 mathematics.”

Timothy Kanold, Educator, Author

“This is what we’ve been waiting for: a go-to resource for planning and facilitating mathematics lessons in K-2! Teachers must consider the needs of their students, relevant mathematical content, and appropriate pedagogy when designing and implementing effective learning opportunities. Through authentic vignettes and examples, connections to relevant research, and guiding reflection questions, this Handbook guides readers through the process from beginning to end.”

Susie Katt, K-2 Mathematics Coordinator
Lincoln Public Schools

“Planning is so much more than identifying materials, making copies, or filling out a form. Many of us were not trained to identify purpose, think about our students, look for quality instructional tasks, consider representations, or anticipate what our students will do. Finally, this handbook is here! We have our blueprint. This tool is a must-have for anyone new to teaching mathematics or anyone else who supports those who teach mathematics."  

John SanGiovanni, Coordinator

"Planning is one of the most important instructional activities that teachers undertake.  But how many teachers know how to plan lessons that are purposeful, coherent, and rigorous that also take into account the rich perspectives of diverse classroom of students?  This teacher resource makes explicit what it takes to plan lessons that truly support student learning while also speaking to principals, coaches, and preservice educators who support teacher learning. I will certainly be using this valuable resource in my own work with teachers."

 
Linda Ruiz Davenport, Director of K-12 Mathematics
Office of Instructional Research and Development, Boston Public Schools
Key features

Includes:

  • Vignettes and concrete examples in every chapter
  • Sample lessons for each grade level in grades K–2
  • Guidance for planning at the unit and lesson level
  • Stop and reflect sections
  • Prompts and room for writing to build your own lesson plans
  • Companion website contains downloadable versions of all templates, tasks, and sample lessons

Purchasing options

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

contact corwin

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ISBN: 9781506387819
CAD$ 54.95

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

For instructors

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