Mindset Mathematics: Visualizing and Investigating Big Ideas, Grade 8

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Engage students in mathematics using growth mindset techniques. The challenges of teaching mathematics often lie in engaging students and helping them grasp the connections between concepts. This volume offers a collection of low floor, high ceiling tasks designed to address these challenges by exploring eighth-grade big ideas through visualization, play, and investigation. Authors Jo Boaler, Jen Munson, and Cathy Williams, after working with tens of thousands of teachers, recognized a common desire for incorporating brain science into math instruction but noted the need for effective guidance. Thus, they crafted this resource around the principle of active student engagement, featuring tasks grounded in the latest brain science on learning. Open, creative, and visual math tasks have been shown to enhance student test scores and transform their relationship with mathematics, fostering belief in their potential. Key insights include the idea that anyone can excel in mathematics, the importance of mistakes and challenges for brain growth, the irrelevance of speed, and the visual nature of mathematics. With engaging questions, open-ended tasks, and vibrant visuals, this resource is organized around nine big ideas that highlight connections within the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and can complement any current curriculum.