AIMSSEC, the Schools Enrichment Center of AIMS South Africa, has been working for a number of years to create a book series to support self-help teacher workshops. In April 2016, CUP (Cambridge University Press) published the first book in this series: Mathematical Thinking in the Lower Secondary Classroom.
The book was written by local and international team of authors and is designed to give guidance for mathematics teachers to enable them to run professional development workshops without the need for an expert to lead them. It is a great book to have as a professional development resource as it offers ideas for learning activities and low cost resources designed to encourage learners to think mathematically and to develop problem solving and communication skills – particularly for learners with English as a second or additional language.
The book has 20 chapters covering topics in number, algebra, geometry and measures, and data handling and probability. Each chapter covers one mathematical concept and addresses one of six teaching strategies. The book also has a chapter on formative assessment; a chapter on teaching and learning mathematics with technology (with a glossary) and an appendix with more than 10 photocopiable resources.
According to Toni Beardon, Founder of AIMSSEC, “This ‘child of AIMSSEC’ has been in gestation for many years. But the materials have long been in use by teachers who have taken AIMSSEC courses when they have led workshops for their colleagues.”
The book has truly been the combined effort of a multitude of people – from lecturers on the AIMSSEC Mathematical Thinking courses who wrote chapters, to the teachers on the courses who trialled the materials in their schools and classrooms and provided valuable feedback, to the editors who worked tirelessly to bring everything together.
To order a copy of the book place an order online through CUP (free delivery in South Africa) or visit the AIMSSEC offices at 65 Main Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town.