Common Mistakes in Teaching Elementary Math―And How to Avoid Them

Learn the most effective ways to teach elementary math, no matter how much experience you have with the subject. In this book, Fuchang Liu takes you through many common mistakes in math instruction and explains the misunderstandings behind them. He points out practices that should be avoided, helping you to adjust your lessons so that all students can achieve success.

You’ll discover how to…

• Increase your confidence with core math principles and reasoning
• Set your students on the path toward eventually developing more complex math skills
• Improve student achievement by approaching problems in logical yet creative ways
• Overcome common challenges faced by students and teachers
• Teach problem solving for different learning styles

Every chapter reconsiders well-established ways of teaching all areas of elementary math, from addition and subtraction to statistics and graphs. Helpful examples and tips are scattered throughout the book, offering revisions to the way these topics are often presented in the classroom. Also included are group study ideas for principals and instructional coaches so your school or district can work on the book together. With this practical guide, you’ll be ready to help students truly develop their math understanding.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Counting
Chapter 2 Number Properties
Chapter 3 Addition
Chapter 4 Subtraction
Chapter 5 Multiplication
Chapter 6 Division
Chapter 7 The Order Of Operations
Chapter 8 Algebra
Chapter 9 Geometry: Bits And Pieces
Chapter 10 Geometry: Common Geometric Shapes
Chapter 11 Time-Telling
Chapter 12 Fractions
Chapter 13 Decimals
Chapter 14 Simple Statistics And Graphs
Chapter 15 Measurement
Chapter 16 Computational Estimation
Chapter 17 Odds And Ends
Appendix: Suggestions for Using Common Mistakes in Teaching Elementary Math with Study Groups