Brain-Compatible Mathematics 2/e

Diane Ronis is a professor of education at Southern Connecticut State University and has a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. Her drive to make learning meaningful to all students comes from 17 years of teaching middle school and high school mathematics and fine arts as well as eight years of experience instructing preservice teachers at the college and graduate level. Ronis has been a presenter and keynote speaker at numerous conferences, workshops and seminars, and is the author of Brain Compatible Mathematics, Brain Compatible Assessments, Critical Thinking in Math, Problem Based Learning for Math & Science: Integrating Inquiry and the Internet, and Clustering Standards in Integrated Units.

Foreword Preface Publisher's Acknowledgements Introduction About the Author 1. Performance-Based Learning and Assessment Traditional Versus Brain-Friendly Assessments Importance of Performance Assessment Alignment of Curriculum and Assessment Assessment as Continuous Monitoring Assessment as Tool for Learning Grades K-2 Units 2. The Six Pillars of Performance Task Development Set Up Clear Performance Goals Employ "Authentic" Project Tasks Teach and Emphasize Criteria Levels and Performance Standards Provide Models and Demonstrations of Excellence Teach Strategies Explicitly Use Ongoing Assessments for Feedback and Adjustments Brain-Compatible Framework Grades 3-5 Units 3. Multiple Intelligences and Brain-Compatible Learning Theory of Multiple Intelligences Multiple Intelligences Model Assessment for Multiple Intelligences Grades 6-8 Units 4. Performance-Based Instructional Strategies Cooperative Learning Writing and Communicating in the Classroom Classroom Practice Challenge Project Unit 5. Problem-Solving Strategies Instructional Strategies Problem Exploration Heuristics Study Skills, Thinking Skills, and Thinking Processes Mnemonic Techniques Organizational Strategies Patterning Challenge Project Unit 6. Teaching and Assessing With the Rubric Scoring Rubrics Categories for Rubrics Types of Rubrics Brain-Compatible Assessment Challenge Project Unit 7. Teaching and Assessing With the Portfolio Student Evaluations Portfolio Assessment A Portfolio System Conclusion Principles and Standards for School Mathematics Glossary Resources Bibliography Index

"Ronis grounds her pedagogy in the current understanding of how the brain operates and in multiple intelligences. This book provides rich classroom examples with management tools to move teachers immediately into practice." -- From the Foreword by Bena Kallick "Provides theory and practice and carefully grounds pedagogy in the current understanding of how the brain operates and multiple intelligences. The book offers rich classroom examples with management tools to move teachers immediately into practice." -- Bena Kallick, Educational Consultant "A fine key to successful teaching: it takes advantage of a student's natural inclination to learn and pairs this with the latest brain research on learning to provide a set of lessons and strategies linked to 200 UCTM standards. Any math teacher must read this." -- California Bookwatch, December 2006