Mathematics... A Way of Thinking

This is a great book to use with a hands on learner. Kids may view the lessons as games rather than work.

There is a lot to appreciate in this book, especially for the classroom teacher. Robert Baratta-Lorton put a lot of time and effort into developing classroom management ideas as well as math teaching concepts, and they're still worth looking at. The math teaching ideas are very sound and apply to lots of situations -- I've used them in summer school, classrooms, tutoring, with adult learners -- and I always learn something myself.

With many states requiring standards-based math lessons, and the constructivist approach preferred by most math gurus, this way of teaching is not currently fashionable. It's still an excellent supplement in a classroom that's using a program like "Mathland," and a very sound teaching system for home schoolers, adults and the significant minority of kids who just don't get the constructivist method. If your child has become thoroughly confused by whatever math program s/he has at school, and you want to help but aren't sure how, this would be the book I'd recommend. It's logical, well-sequenced, works in small steps, and the activities are fun and have practical applications -- just clear a BIG space on the dining room table!