Art of Learning Math - by Susan Midlarsky (Paperback)

About the Book

This book provides new, meaningful ways of working with math over a lifetime. It is research-based and includes many hands-on, interactive explanations. Combining stories, activities, visualizations and more, the book provides a means for students of any age to fall in love with mathematics.

Book Synopsis

Many parents and teachers struggle with math. How many times have you heard, "I hate math," "Math is not my thing," or, "I can't do math"? In our culture, innumeracy is acceptable. This acceptance fails to account for innumeracy's lifelong consequences, from not understanding statistics used in science and news to difficulty managing finances. The Art of Learning Math is a journey into what makes math meaningful. It takes the reader through the developmental stages of learning math, from infancy to adulthood. It weaves stories, examples, research references, reasons, the arts, and evolutionary understandings to make it relevant and comprehensible to readers. It also provides concrete, actionable tools to help the reader be successful in their endeavor, whether that is to educate groups of children, their own children, or themselves.

Review Quotes

The Art of Learning Math leads the reader through a thoughtful consideration of mathematics learning from infancy to adulthood. Midlarsky interweaves key findings from relevant research literature throughout the text with timely invitations to reflect on the readers' experience with mathematics education. Midlarsky uses Common Core content and process standards to organize the text and her own experience as a teacher and a coach to provide a rich set of problems and activities for engaging students to improve their understanding of and attitudes toward mathematics. She seamlessly integrates discussions of content and pedagogical knowledge to illustrate the importance and value of teaching for understanding. The text would be useful in methods and content courses for undergraduates studying mathematics education. Recommended. Undergraduates and practitioners.

The Art of Learning Math should be mandatory reading for math teachers of all levels. Susan Midlarsky has written a book that is very practical and based on solid research and best practices. The chapter on fractions was particularly relevant as it broke down grade level expectations and stressed the need for manipulatives and discussion in math. My students and I are lucky enough to have had Ms. Midlarsky as a classroom coach and we all benefited from her excellent instruction and advice. I am very glad that Ms. Midlarsky, a gifted and passionate educator, has written a book that will help to alleviate the fear factor around math and enhance math instruction.

Susan Midlarsky has written a must-read book for math teachers, administrators, and parents. She brings the fun of learning to the math experience, while also de-mystifying complexities that frustrate many learners. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the early reading team and highly recommend The Art of Learning Math for anyone wanting to have a more positive engagement with mathematics.

Susan Midlarsky shares three decades of insight gained as a math educator, curriculum writer, and instructional coach for hundreds of teachers across the globe. She shares stories from teaching her own students and teachers, as well as research in the field. The Art of Learning Math reminds us that the development of excellent math skills requires the attention of parents and teachers from the youngest age. We all sometimes need help steering students in their understanding of math and promoting their excitement in learning new concepts, and this book provides tested approaches to enrich our teaching. The guided practices provide useful insight into cultivating math excellence in both the formal and informal context. It is a must read for parents who wish to homeschool their children.

What a feast of mathematical food for thought! Every reader will take away big helpings of the delicious dishes offered at Ms. Midlarsky's table of plenty. The Art of Learning Math: A Manual for Success offers a clear, readable, and comprehensive guide to math concepts from early childhood through adulthood, supported with cogent examples and effective instructional strategies.

About the Author

Susan Midlarsky has decades of experience as a teacher, tutor, curriculum writer, math coach, and artist. She has inspired the love of math in adults and children using unique and enjoyable approaches to the subject that are grounded in research.