GJones

Student-centered mathematics is the way mathematics should be taught on a daily basis.  This book is a proponent of constructivism in the presentation of mathematic education.  Comprehending math means students must be engaged in authentic mathematics, with cognatively appropriate instruction.  Teachers must present the conceptual and applicable nature of mathematics to fully faciliate student mathematical comprehension. 

The schema children acquire prior to entering a teacher's class should act as catalysts to new mathematical endeavors.  Numbers are an important part of a child's life before they enter a classoroom.  Students use numbers constantly and need to build new schema upon their existing foundation of numeral sense.  Teachers need to facilitate the encounters of new mathematical concepts via authentic, applicable activities.

The main goal of mathematical education is application.  Children should be able to implement their knowledge of mathematical operations in authentic situations.  Proficient students show mastery of the basic functions of mathematical operations. Some children have several ineffective strategies to compensate for a lack of mastery of these basic operations.  Teachers can help all children develop effective means of acquiring a mastery level of all the basic mathematical operations and functions.  It can be done.