Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, Fifth Edition [Paperback]

John A. Van de Walle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 020538689X | ISBN-13: 978-0205386895 | Publication Date: April 4, 2003 | Edition: 5

This best-selling K-8 math methods text has the most coverage of the NCTM standards, the strongest coverage of middle school mathematics, and the highest student approval of any other text on the market. Elementary and Middle School Mathematics provides an unparalleled depth of ideas and discussion to help students develop a real understanding of the mathematics they will teach. John Van de Walle is one of the foremost experts on how children learn mathematics, and 80 percent of students keep his book for reference when they enter the classroom. The text reflects the NCTM Principles and Standards and the benefits of constructivist-or student-centered-mathematics instruction. Moreover, it is structured for maximum flexibility, offering 24 brief, compartmentalized chapters that may be mixed and matched to fit any course or teaching approach.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Elementary and Middle School Mathematics. "Overall, this book is an excellent resource for those who are investigating the teaching of mathematics at the elementary and middle school levels...Above all, the emphasis on student-centered problem solving is consistent with current trends and practices. This book is unique in that it challenges assumptions and traditional practices." Katherine Chamberlain, Lycoming College ~"I have used Van de Walle since it came on the market and still feel it is, by far, the best available! The layout is excellent. The philosophical basis of the text is superb-It's easy to read by both undergraduates and graduate students in that it makes connections between their experiences and the philosophical foundations. Three major strengths include the references to the NCTM Standards, inclusion of algebraic thought at all grade levels, and the continued development of the same themes and philosophical foundations." Tim Whiteford, Trinity College of Vermont ~" [One] of the major reasons why Van de Walle's text is so useful...is the text's involvement of the reader in the development of 'mathematical reasoning.' It creates a thinker." Timothy Touzel, Coastal Carolina University

About the Author

Dr. John A. Van de Walle was one of the most renowned mathematics educators in the country and the author of Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, the book that, in its seventh edition, continues to be the leading text and resource in the United States and Canada for teaching K-8 mathematics.  John A. Van de Walle graduated cum laude from Bellarmine College in 1965 with a degree in mathematics, earned his master's degree in mathematics at St. Louis University in 1967, and in 1972, earned his doctoral degree in mathematics education from Ohio State University.  He spent most of his career at Virginia Commonwealth University where he was Professor Emeritus and for 29 years taught mathematics education to pre-service and in-service teachers. He retired in 2002, but continued to write and work with teachers to promote mathematics education.  He also served as a consultant to various school systems in the U.S. and Canada.  He was an active member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and served on its board of directors from 1998 to 2001.  He once said, “It is fun to figure out the puzzle of how children go about making sense of mathematics and then how to help teachers help kids.”  Dr. Van de Walle died at home on December 2, 2006.  He is survived by his wife Sharon of 40 years, his two daughters, and three grand daughters.

 

Karen Karp is a Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Louisville (Kentucky).  Prior to entering the field of teacher education she was an elementary school teacher in New York.  Karen is a co-author of Feisty Females; Inspiring Girls to Think Mathematically, which is aligned with her research interests on teaching mathematics to diverse populations.  With Jennifer, Karen co-edited Growing Professionally: Readings from NCTM Publications for Grades K-8. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and a former president of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE).  

 

Jennifer M. Bay-Williams is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Louisville (Kentucky). Jennifer has published many articles on teaching and learning in NCTM journals. She has also co-authored the following books: Math and Literature: Grades 6-8, Math and Nonfiction: Grades 6-8, Navigating through Connections in Grades 6-8. Jennifer taught elementary, middle, and high school in Missouri and in Peru, and continues to work in classrooms at all levels with students and with teachers.  Jennifer serves as the editor of the upcoming NCTM Yearbook (2012) and is the Immediate Past President of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE).

 

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 5 edition (April 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 020538689X
• ISBN-13: 978-0205386895
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have!, August 6, 2003

By 

D. Groves "Working Mom" (Kotzebue, Alaska, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally (4th Edition) (Paperback)

If you learned math from traditional methods or algorithms, you must read this book. Math today is so different from how I learned it. This book explains how and why math has changed so much. I recommend it to teachers and parents alike. The author explains how to teach math using problem-solving. The method makes so much more sense than traditional mathematics. The book is filled with activities for every math concept and age that are easy to find, read, and use without much prep or prop. It also has ideas and resources for including literature and technology into math class.
I find it highly valuable as a 3rd year teacher of fifth grade. My district uses the Visual Math program, and this book has helped me understand why visual math works much more than any inservice. I have the fifth edition as a textbook for a methods class, and I'll never leave home without it.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must have for any elementary - middle school math teacher, February 5, 2005

By 

K. Harrison "mathnerd" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, Fifth Edition (Paperback)

This book has not only taught me to teach math effectively but it has changed the way I understand mathematic concepts as well. I was taught math walking step by step through each chapter in a text book, learning skills and not concepts, learning algorithms rather than developing logical reasoning strategies. Van De Walle has suited me as a textbook for myself and a resource for curriculum planning in my sixth grade math class. I am so thankful to have stumbled into this text - it has been a life saver!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Elementary and Middle School Mathematics, November 1, 2009

By 

Paul Angell (Vermont) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally (7th Edition) (Paperback)

The book is good and has many useful ideas and activities for math instruction. The rub is that Amazon doesn't give you the access code which is required to link to a website which contains blackline masters, etc. Their customer service staff is friendly but ineffective in resolving this issue and the publisher doesn't seem to know what to do about it either. Very frustrating! At $120+ for the book, I wouldn't have expected to have these hassles and, ultimately, remain dissatisfied.