Oral Storytelling and Teaching Mathematics

Michael Stephen Schiro has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He received his bachelorate from Tufts University and his doctorate from Harvard University. In the 1960's he worked for school desegregation n North Carolina. In the 1970's he worked to improve urban education in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was chair of the Department of Teacher Education and School Administration at Boston College in the 1980's. He specializes in mathematics education and curriculum theory, and taught courses in mathematics education, curriculum theory, computer education, literacy, and multicultural education at Boston College from 1974 to 2009, when he retired. He published eleven books with such diverse titles as Integrating Children's Literature and Mathematics in the Classroom, Oral Story Telling and Teaching Mathematics, Mega-Fun Math Games, Curriculum for Better Schools: The Great Ideological Debate, and Tan and the Shape Changer.

Preface The Wizard's Tale: Foundations of Mathematical Epic Oral Storytelling The Wizard's Tale: In Doris Lawson's Fourth Grade Classroom Mathematical Epic Oral Storytelling: Underlying Assumptions Mathematical Epic Oral Storytelling: Structural Relationships Mathematical Epic Oral Storytelling: Pedagogical Assumptions To Teach Or Not To Teach Mathematical Algorithms Variations On The Wizard's Tale With Fourth Graders - Doris P. Lawson The Egypt Story: Oral Storytelling, Problem Solving and Multicultural Mathematics The Egypt Story: Doris Lawson Tells Sixth Graders An Oral Story An Interview With Doris Lawson About The Egypt Story Problem Solving: Mathematical And Multicultural Mathematics And Culture Multicultural Mathematics Instruction Oral Storytelling, Mathematics, Ideology, and Multicultural Intentions Bibliography Index

"This book makes significant contributions to the field of mathematics education in many areas. Its use of oral storytelling as a means of teaching algorithms and problem solving, its presentation of a collaborative teaching model that can be generalized to all mathematics teaching, its presentation of a new perspective on problem solving, enhancing the currently popular approach, and its insights into multicultural mathematics all provide a wealth of knowledge for pre-service and in-service classroom teachers as well as mathematics education instructors." -- Dr. Rainy M. Cotti "It is very well written. It avoids math education jargon, but at the same time discusses deep issues in the subject. References to the literature are useful and well chosen . . . . The book flows very well. very well. I liked the way of starting with stories and the stories of the classroom lessons. This gives a good foundation for the more theoretical discussions later in the book." -- Susan Addington "Schiro's book proposes the use of fantasy in the teaching of mathematics. Schiro maintains that the fantasy storytelling genre permits the use of mathematical manipulatives, imagery, symbols, diagrams, and algorithms by both the storyteller and the audience, allowing the listener to envision mathematical problems...This is an intriguing book." -- CHOICE * CHOICE * "Schiro's book is a testament to the necessity of a diverse educational background." See full review at http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Journal/bkrev_841.htm -- NACADA Journal