Saturday, August 23, 2014

Good Questions: Great Ways to Differentiate Mathematics Book Review

I am so excited to be participating in this Math Book Blog Hop today! I have teamed up with a bunch of awesome math bloggers to bring this to you.


I am a reader. It seems as if I read more for school than I do for me. BUT, when I find something that is good, I want everyone to know about it. My team is probably sick of me talking about this book, but if I could only have one teaching resource in my classroom, this would probably be it!

Let me tell you how this book works. It is divided up by strand according to the Common Core Standards. Being from Texas, this doesn't bother me at all even though we do not follow the common core curriculum. Within each strand, it is broken down in to grade levels. This particular book has content for K-8th grade. If you are looking for high school, you might want to check out the "sequel" that can be found here: More Good Questions: Great Ways to Differentiate Secondary Mathematics Instruction  

Within each grade level, there are two types of questions: open ended questions and parallel tasks. The open -ended questions are exactly what they sound like--open ended. These are great because they not only correlate to the big idea from the standard, but they also have suggested answers, teaching tips, and examples. My favorite question that I asked from this book last year was:

"You divide two fractions and the numerator of the quotient is four. What could the two fractions be?" 
(taken from page 47)

I love this question for so many reasons. The vocabulary used is vocabulary that we want our kids to use. This reinforces the proper academic vocabulary for the content being assessed. Also, it requires students to come up with a strategy that may be different from their classmate's strategy. There is no "right" answer, there is an infinite amount of correct answers. It also allows the kids to all be able to share their solutions instead of one student answering and moving on. 

Starting to ask questions (especially warm-ups or exit tickets) in this way totally transformed my teaching. I was now asking purposeful questions. They were planned. I got excited to get the part of the lesson when we could share responses. We did this every day, and the results were amazing!

The parallel tasks are just as good, if not better. Parallel tasks are based on one topic, but there are two questions. One is sometimes more challenging than the other, but it is always disguised by having what students would refer to as "friendly numbers." The point is that you tell them they only have to answer one question. In my opinion, they end up working out both to see which is easier! Kids are so funny. Here is an example of one of my favorites:

"Lisa's dad was driving 16 miles every 15 minutes. 
Choice 1: How far would he drive in 20 minutes?
Choice 2: How far would he drive in 2.5 hours?"
(taken from page 65)

Both questions involve some analysis before proceeding. Students inherently want to figure out which one is "easier" or will take less time. Many students of mine started out by answering choice 1, but then qiuckly switched to choice 2. 

These are just two examples of types of questions in this wonderful book. I encourage all of you to give it a try! 

Want a chance to win it?? I am raffling off a copy of the book and will send it to you directly. Because I am incurring the cost of shipping as well as the book, please only enter if you live in the contiguous 48 states. I apologize in advance!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click on the image below to be taken to the next blog: Miss Math Dork!

MissMathDork

33 comments:

  1. We're getting a new curriculum this year to align to the Common Core and I'm looking for any resource to help since my students struggle with basic math concepts in middle school

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  2. I am always looking for resources to help develop number sense in my kiddos. I want to try the parallel tasks in my classroom!

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  3. I am always looking ways to involve my kids' minds more often. I really want to try the parallel tasks, too,
    chief9937@Yahoo.com

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  4. Love the idea of parallel tasks. It is amazing how the question being asked can completely change the difficulty of the task!

    Tara
    The Math Maniac

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  5. I hope to win this book so that I can find new ways to differentiate math for all my learners.

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  6. Great questioning resources! This is one I must have! Love the parallel tasks--my wheels are already moving. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Smiles,
    Sarah

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  7. New math program...always looking for ways to make it "kid friendly"...:) Thanks! Wendy 1stgradefireworks@gmail.com

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  8. As a 1st grade teacher finding new ways to reach my students is important. Hopefully I'll get some add'l help from you fave book!

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  10. I need this book! It will help me diffrentiate instruction for my struggling students.

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  11. OOOH! This isn't a book I'm familiar with! Off to order it now! Thanks, Danielle!

    Jamie aka MissMathDork!

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  12. This is one of my favorite books--I refer to it often!!!

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  13. This is a book that I have been looking forward to reading! As a math coach serving two schools, over 1600 kids and 75 teachers, I know that questioning strategies are key in order to get at student thinking and differentiate for student success. I am also trying to build professional libraries at both schools for teachers to reference as we all grow together in our mathematical journey! Thanks for blog hop and my fingers are crossed! :)

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  14. I want to win this book because it talks about the use of math vocabulary and how important that is.

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  15. I'm from Texas too! I would like this book because I'm about to get 21 second graders whose math skills are all over the map and I would love to differentiate for them.

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  16. This book is actually on my wish list!! I used it when I taught high school and it was a wonderful resource!!

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  17. Good questioning is so important for developing mathematical thinking and now even more so with open ended tasks on the new state assessments. I would love to share this book with my teachers.

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  18. Danielle,
    This book looks so familiar. I have to research to find out why this book looks so familiar. I will definitely add this book to my collection. I love the questions that you sampled above. The parallel tasks are EXCELLENT as they give an entry point to a variety of learners. Thanks for sharing.

    Greg
    Mr Elementary Math Blog

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  19. This sounds like a great book! Love the idea of the kids having a choice of questions to answer. Even in my remediation resource classes I have to differentiate at times.

    Misty
    Little Room Under the Stairs

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  20. Differentiating through questions is something I am always trying to do, so how have I missed this book? I can tell from your post that I have to get this one!
    Brandi
    The Research Based Classroom

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  21. I need help differentiating my instruction and hopefully this book will help.

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  22. I love the examples you provided from the book. This type of questioning will really help enhance my math instruction! Thanks for the giveaway :)

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  23. Since I am beginning Math Workshop for the first time this year, I really need to change my "math talk" to discourse that is more student centered. I have a hard time being creative here, especially on my feet.

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  24. I teach sixth-grade math and I'm always looking for a way to kick it up a notch. Looks like a really great resource!

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  25. I'd never heard of this book, but your review (testimonial?!) convinced me that it's a must-have! I'm a Title 1 Intervention teacher (reading and math, Grades 2 - 5) and this would be a super resource! Thanks for sharing it.

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  26. Always looking for better questions to get my kids thinking. This looks great.

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  27. I have been reading this book all summer. It is loaded with excellent questions. I cannot wait to get started this year with it.

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  28. Sounds like a great book to possibly use to develop some task cards!

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  29. I would love to learn how to differeniate my instruction.

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  30. I'm happy to find your blog. This is exactly the kind of blog, I want to follow.

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  31. Love to win this book! Like to read your blog, it's been great implementing some of the things I read here in my classes.

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  32. I am a first year teacher and I would really like a resource that I can use to help me differentiate mathematics in my classroom to engage all students.

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  33. This will be great for me because one of our building goals is differentiation this year. Thanks so much!

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