Young Mathematicians at Work: Constructing Multiplication and Division

In this second volume in a series of three, Fosnot and Dolk focus on how to develop an understanding of multiplication and division in grades 3-5. Their book:

• describes and illustrates what it means to do and learn mathematics
• provides strategies to help teachers turn their classrooms into math workshops that encourage and reflect mathematizing
• examines several ways to engage and support children as they construct important strategies and big ideas related to multiplication
• takes a close look at the strategies and big ideas related to division
• defines modeling and provides examples of how learners construct models - with a discussion of the importance of context
• discusses what it means to calculate using number sense and whether or not algorithms should still be the goal of computation instruction
• describes how to strengthen performance and portfolio assessment
• emphasizes teachers as learners by encouraging them to see themselves as mathematicians.