Bøger af Barry Garelick

"Hell hath no fury like a mathematician whose child has been scorned by an education system that refuses to know better," Barry Garelick wrote in his first published article on math education in 2005. He has been at it ever since, and his focus has remained the same: why many of today's practices for teaching math are ineffective and often destructive. This collection brings together some of his best articles on math education over the past ten years. Garelick states: "In writing these articles, I often feel that I am explaining in detail why jumping out of an airplane without a parachute will result in death. And while I am heartened that my readers have found these articles useful, I am also disheartened when I hear the education establishment react with arguments that are tantamount to 'Oh but if you jump out of an airplane the right way, you can survive.' " Nevertheless there is a growing momentum in the U.S. against the well-intentioned but highly injurious nonsense that passes for math education. This collection of articles will assure those people who are convinced that it is being taught poorly that they are right. Reviews: "Barry Garelick is an invaluable source of clear-eyed analysis in a world of math education that is so often given over to fads, agendas, and assorted foolishness. Garelick approaches math instruction, curriculum, and reform with a studious expertise and a wry skepticism that is all too rare. His book will be a welcome resource for parents and teachers frustrated with math education and seeking hard-headed advice on what ought to be done differently." Frederick Hess, Director of Education Policy Studies at American Enterprise Institute "A teacher, a parent and a mathematics major, Garelick's first-hand accounts of his experiences navigating the world of math education are all too familiar to those of us who have experienced the negative impact of educational fads in mathematics classrooms. This book is a must read for parents, teachers and anyone who cares about the way math is taught in North American schools." Dr. Anna Stokke, associate professor of mathematics at the University of Winnipeg. "Barry Garelick's highly readable volume of essays uses a diverse set of critical lenses to trace the stories of--and convincingly impugn--math-instructional ideals and methods that have not yet come close to fulfilling their proponents' promises. Required reading for anyone growing weary of all the lagging results, faddish terminology, and upside-down approaches they see across American K-12 mathematics instruction." Eric Kalenze, author of "Education is Upside-Down" "Those who criticize traditional methods of teaching math are prone to spout wise-sounding homilies about the need to "teach children to think like mathematicians. Barry Garelick understands that if you want kids to think like a mathematician you need to teach them some math, not wait for them to discover basic procedures on their own. For those stubbornly committed to learning math through discovery, here's hoping they discover Garelick's book." Robert Pondiscio, Senior Fellow and Vice President for External Affairs, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

An honest and critical look at math education from the inside, from the author of "Letters from John Dewey/Letters from Huck Finn" For anyone concerned with what Common Core is bringing about in the name of 21st century math education, STEM education, and "21st century skills, this book is a must-read. "I am not an outright proponent of the philosophy that 'If you want something done right, you have to live in the past', but when it comes to how to teach math there are worse philosophies to embrace," Barry Garelick explains as he continues from where he left off in his last book ("Letters from John Dewey/Letters from Huck Finn"). He describes his experiences as a long-term substitute teacher at a high school and middle school. He teaches math as he best knows how while schools throughout California make the transition to the Common Core standards. It is the 50th anniversary of key historical events including the JFK assassination and the Beatles' arrival in the U.S. It is also the 50th anniversary of his first algebra course, the technical and personal memories of which he uses to guide him through the 21st century educational belief system that is infused with Common Core and which surrounds him. Adds Garelick: " 'Confessions of a 21st Century Math Teacher' will never be required reading in any school of education in the U.S. While this might be a great reason to read the book, it is also a shame because there is a serious lack of an honest discussion and debate on math education issues that really needs to happen in education schools and within the education establishment in general." "The book offers a brief glimpse into the eye of the storm that matters to kids, parents and teachers: the classroom as it functions under changing curricula and mindsets and how stakeholders deal with it. The book shows how great teachers are desperate to deliver a solid education in spite of proclamations from disconnected, poorly-grounded leaders; it shows how students just want to learn math and parents want to feel confident and informed about the education their kids are receiving." Matthew Tabor, editor, Education News "If you want to know why a teacher without a political ax to grind and who is deeply committed to actual teaching would object to the Common Core--read this book!" David Olson, Asst Professor, Communications Studies, Southwestern University Yong Zhao, author of "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon?: Why China Has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World" had this to say about "Confessions of a 21st Century Math Teacher: " "I have read parts of it. I like the story-telling style but have been trying to understand [the] main messages. I will read more." While we wait for Yong to read more and come up with his final conclusions, buy your copy now! FROM THE INTRODUCTION: This book takes place in the 21st century and a school district in California. Like many districts in the U.S., it is married to the group-think-inspired conception known as 21st century learning. Those who have fallen under the spell of this idea believe that today's students live in the digital world where any information can be Googled, and facts are not as important as "learning how to learn". It is a brave new world in which students must collaborate, be creative, work as a team and construct new meanings. In the world of 21st century learning, one prevailing belief is that procedures don't stick; they are forgotten. Students are to be taught "learning skills", "critical and higher order thinking" and "habits of mind" in order to prepare for jobs that have not yet been created. In short, it is an educational orientation that I and others like me 1) do not believe in and 2) find ourselves immersed in. It was the underlying belief system in which I had to work during two long-term sub assignments which are the subject of the book you are about to rea

"Despite experiencing our teaching in different times, we are both oriented to traditional math teaching. It wasn't because we were both taught that way, as some may believe, but because that method worked for us and we have seen it work for our students. It is efficient, effective, non-confusing and helped our students develop mathematical reasoning, understanding, and confidence. Most importantly it helped them to be successful." So begins the book on traditional math, which provides a glimpse of what explicit instruction looks like in the classroom for grades K through 8. Barry Garelick and J.R. Wilson are retired math teachers who describe the methods of traditionally taught math that they used in their teaching. Their descriptions serve two purposes: 1) It provides assurance to teachers who may already practice these methods that they are not alone, and 2) For others, it may provide some new ideas.

Author, a mathematics teacher, offers a humorous critique of mathematics education in the United States, from 1989-2012, repeating his own thoughts as expressed under the name John Dewey, and later under the name Huck Finn.

"e;Tell the administration what they want to hear, then do what is best for your students."e;That's advice Barry Garelick tries to followin the process of becoming a fully credentialed teacher which entails beingmonitored by two mentors. As the Mark Twain of education writing, Garelick presents this collection of essays which chronicle his experiences at two schools, teaching math. With essays such as,"e;Not Making Sense, and a Conversation I Never Had; "e;Math Talk"e;, Stalin's Hemorrhoids and Murder of Crows"e;,Garelick gives the reader a veritstyle glimpse into the daily routines of math teaching and exposes a lot of the nonsense that teachers are advised to follow, and which they feel guilty about when they don't.