Yes, but why? Teaching for understanding in mathematics

This a book I am happy to have and use to deepen my understanding of math concepts for teaching but also to have as a reference for topics I need a refresher on.

I always wanted to know why

Very useful!

Helpful

I'm not a math teacher but I'm also not an idiot. In trying to explain how adding odd and even numbers yields strange results, he wastes over 20 pages and never mentions the number line. Then he goes on to explain how .9999 is equal to 1. The second line of his proof is wrong and leads to an incorrect answer. This book is crap and $30 for a paperback is far too expensive for what it is really worth.

I have the paperback book and this book is amazing. Very fast shipping to the US, came here earlier than expected. Ed is great at what he does and if you don't already follow him on Twitter, you should (@solvemymaths). He really gets at the core of teaching, why we do things the way we do, which is what teachers really should think about. I love this book and I'm so glad I have it! Thanks Ed!

The most useful learning aid I have purchased for teaching mathematics to others.I have purchased many books, from the Student guides of various examination boards (GCSE and A-Level) to the more abstract ones such as 'How to think like a mathematician' and 'Key Concepts for Primary Teaching', but this book by Ed Southall is proving to be head and tails above any other purchase.The book itself is neatly presented and a decent size, its easy to navigate to topics you wish to brush up on and the terminology used throughout means the book is accessible not only to those with lots of mathematical knowledge but also students at school who wish to investigate the rules of maths further.The books content is superb. It presents, for example, many established proofs of Pythagorus' theorem - clearly with diagrams. So that learners who struggle to grasp the concept of one will be given the opportunity to still gather the "why" by checking an alternative given method. But on top of that the author then gives a further idea (again using the Pythagorus' example) at the end of the chapter - by showing that providing the shapes on each side are similar, then the rule still applies - I had not known this and it made me want to go and work out some problems of my own. Its an inspiring read.Covering the reasoning of basics such as why column method of arithmetic works, to the many reasonings behind Circle Theorems, this book covers plenty.Any aspiring Tutor or Teacher could do themselves a favour and add this to their collection of "go to" books, and if you simply have an interest in mathematics this will be a gem of a read for you also.

Great book however several pages have blurred text which I am struggling to read - some is totally illegible. Feel for the price the copy should be checked to ensure it is of the right quality!

As a trainee teacher, this book has been fantastic. It's an easy read (unlike many of the textbooks on my reading list!), with great explanations and plenty of food for thought! Thank you!

I'm only halfway through but it's hard to not enjoy this book. Very interesting historical stories and even if you don't love mathematics this book has many other qualities which make it interesting. It's also helped me understand the context behind certain mathematic teachings.

Recommended for any primary teacher who has to be sure they can inspire mastery in their pupils. Whether you are a maths specialist or not, you will find this book very helpful.