Math Teacher's Toolbox

Nicholas J. Rinaldi has more than four decades of experience teaching mathematics at the high school level. He has also taught “Math Strategies in Secondary Education,” a university graduate course in education for students preparing to be math teachers at the secondary or middle school levels.

• IntroductionChapter 1:On Your Marks, Get Set…Establishing ExpectationsCourse DescriptionGetting off to a good startChapter 2: Put Me In Coach…Getting Students Actively Involved OverviewChapter 3:Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines…Opening of ClassActivitiesOverviewProblems to introduce the next lessonProblems to review a previous lesson ‘Real world’ math problemsHoliday problemsSAT prep questionsBrain teasersChapter 4:And the Children Shall Lead…Rinaldi’s Routine: Creating a Student-centered ClassroomProcedures and MaterialsRinaldi’s Routine--- Student surveyCooperative Learning---Student SurveyiChapter 5: Eureka…Inquiry Based /Discovery LessonsOverviewChessboard SquaresProperties of ExponentsThe Triangle Angle Sum TheoremFinding the Equation of a Parabola from DataChapter 6: “When Will I Ever Use This?”…Problems in the Student’s WorldOverviewCircle GraphsScale Drawings and MoreMeanest Kid in SchoolChapter 7: He Who Laughs, Lasts…Humor in the ClassroomOverviewMath RiddlesHumorous Story ProblemsMath JokesWacky DefinitionsChapter 8: Calculate This!...Using the Graphing CalculatorOverviewThe Open BoxShortest Path ProblemBones, Bones, BonesiiChapter 9: The Pen Is Mightier Than the Calculator…Writing in a Math ClassOverviewAnswer CompletelyRead CarefullyRapid WriteFrom Top to BottomChalk TalkExit Slips Chapter 10: It’s Game Time…Classroom CompetitionsOverviewStudent SurveyTic-Tac-ToeStation-to-StationBottleneckWho Am I?/What Am I?The Message GameTeam Tournament Chapter 11: All Good Things Must Come to an End…Closing ActivitiesChapter 12: But Wait! There’s More…Odds and EndsWait Time The ConsultantProgress ReportNew Year’s ResolutioniiiAssignment Sheets Self EsteemMonster Math Thumbs UpTest TimeConclusion AnswersAppendix

The Math Teacher’s Toolbox can best bedescribed as a referencefor the mathematicsteacher. In it, Rinaldishares the lessons hehas learned after morethan four decades ofteaching mathematics. Full of time-tested ideas for successfully managing a high school mathematics class, this book providesreaders with tips and suggestionsfor everything from grading homework toimplementing group work successfully. The Math Teacher’s Toolbox alsooffers readers many good strategies. Thispractical guide could be very helpful to anew mathematics teacher or to a veteranlooking for new ideas. . . .[T]his book contains enough solid information to make it a useful resource for any mathematics teacher.