Teaching Math Online

Learn how to provide rich, online mathematics instruction that maximizes the screen time you have with students and includes parents without overwhelming them. Marian Small shows teachers how to use open questions and parallel tasks as ideal strategies for teaching math in a virtual environment, how to adapt existing materials, how to build and maintain community with students online, and how and when to use “office hours” to assist students and parents. This practical resource examines the benefits that online learning affords, such as recorded lessons that families can access for reteaching and tasks that use home environments as resources for counting, measuring, geometry, data analysis, and more. Students absorb the deep message that math is indeed everywhere. Readers will find clear explanations, engaging teaching examples, and troubleshooting tips. Teaching Math Online is essential for anyone teaching K–8 math either wholly online or in blended classrooms.

Book Features:

• Provides immediate assistance for teachers with either little or extensive experience teaching math online.
• Offers specific suggestions for supporting parents in their new partnership role.
• Addresses both logistical and pedagogical issues important to successful online learning.
• Includes access to teaching videos and scripts for teachers to create their own at tcpress.com/teachingmathonline.
• Provides reproducibles for creating math manipulatives and tools.
• Discusses distanced formative assessment.
• Suggests additional online resources.

Marian Small is an international professional developer and conference speaker. A former dean of education and professor of mathematics education, she is widely known for her bestselling books and her in-district work with educators. Visit her website at www.onetwoinfinity.ca for in-person and online professional development.

“This book offers teachers of mathematics multiple practical suggestions for how to make an online environment intellectually vibrant and challenging, while touching the important bases of the math curriculum at different levels. It’s a valuable resource, particularly for teachers new to remote teaching.”
—Charlotte Danielson, The Danielson Group

“Once again, Marian Small’s common sense approach to teaching and learning reminds us to present tasks visually, in an engaging context, and to continue to probe student thinking with open questions. Teaching Math Online offers teachers working in a remote environment multiple examples of how to focus on the big ideas, be clear about the success criteria, and partner with students and their families, all in a safe environment. A great read, just in time for another challenging school year.”
—Pia Hansen, Math Learning Center (MLC)

Contents

Introduction 1

1  Principles to Consider When Teaching Online 3
What Math Teaching Must Focus On 3
Creating Warmth 3
Creating Interactivity and Engagement 4
Providing Clarity and Structure 5
Attending to Individual Differences 6

2  Differentiation Instruction Using Open Questions and Parallel Tasks 7
The Value of Open Questions in an Online Environment 7
The Value of Parallel Tasks in an Online Environment 9
The Value of Rich Math Conversation: Unexpected Benefits of an Online Environment 10
The Importance of Being Intentional in an Online Environment 11

3  Logistics 12
Preparing Students for Working at a Distance 12
Connectivity Issues 12
Building Online Communities 13
Collecting Work From Students 15
Providing Feedback and Formative Assessment 16
Involving Parents Without Overwhelming Them 16
Dealing With Manipulatives When Teaching Virtually 18

4  Adapting Questions From Good Questions for the Online Environment 20
Grades K–2 20
Grades 3–5 27
Grades 6–8 33
Summary 40

5  New Open Questions for the Online Environment 41
Grades K–2 41
Grades 3–5 47
Grades 6–8 51
Summary 54

6  Conclusion 55

Resources 56
References 56
Online Resources 56
Videos 57
Math Tools 57

Appendix A: Scripts for Example Videos 58
Learning About Math Tools 59
Using a 100-Chart (Grades 1 and 2) 59
Using Number Lines (Grades 2 and 3) 60
Using Pattern Blocks (Grades 3 and 4) 61
Using Base Ten Blocks (Grades 4 and 5) 62
Using Double Number Lines (Grades 6 and 7) 63
Using Probing Questions 64
234 Question (Grades K–2) 64
What Does Division Look Like? (Grades 3–5) 66
Circles, Squares, and Crosses (Grades 6–8) 67

Appendix B: Templates for Manipulatives 69
10-Frames 70
100-Chart 71
Number Paths 72
Number Lines 73
Pattern Blocks 74
Dot Paper 76
Base Ten Blocks 77
Grid Paper 78
Fraction Strips 79
10 × 10 Grid 80
Double Number Lines 81

About the Author 82

234 Question (Grades K–2)

Download video script (password protected)

Circles, Squares, and Crosses (Grades 6–8)
Download video script (password protected)

Using a 100-Chart in Grades 1 and 2
Download video script (password protected)

Using Base Ten Blocks in Grades 4 and 5
Download video script (password protected)

Using Double Number Lines in Grades 6 and 7
Download video script (password protected)

Using Number Lines in Grades 2 and 3
Download video script (password protected)

Using Pattern Blocks in Grades 3 and 4
Download video script (password protected)

What Does Division Look Like (Grades 3–5)
Download video script (password protected)

Download Templates for Manipulatives

Copublished with and available in Canada exclusively from Nelson Education Ltd.