Math Games for Middle School
Math Games for Middle School Reviews: I knew the late Mario Salvadori and have been a fan of his work. This is obviously a hack job with some of his ideas, then his name slapped on the cover to make it saleable. This book is a train wreck: old problems, no math games to speak of, and it reads like an abbreviated middle school textbook. This is a terrible book and an insult to Mr. Salvadori’s memory.
Math Games for Middle School Reviews: This book reminds me a bit of “The Big Book of Tell Me Why” that children love to read. I am a home schooling mom, not a math teacher. I am home schooling an accelerated second grader. For our “normal” math class work, we are use Singapore Math and the “Key To” series. Terms are also defined. We are only on the first chapter and my son only grasps some of the layers of the onion, but we are both enjoying the book. Our country relies too much on formulas and not enough on understanding. This book would bring joy to a class as an opening warm up to get them thinking.
I wish we had more educators like the author of this book that excited his students to the joy of mathematics and not just to rote learning of rules that seemingly “dropped on us from the sky.” The author taught on the faculties of Columbia university for 50 years and Princeton for 5 years. His earliest work was 8 years in his native city on the faculty of the University of Rome. Ph.D. in mathematics and in civil engineering. He has a center called the Salvadori Center that is dedicated to improving teaching in middle schools with emphasis on math and science. His words, “I have dedicated the last years of my life entirely to teaching the young, from kindergartners through high schoolers.”
Math Games for Middle School Description: From addition and subtraction to plane and space geometry, graphing, simultaneous linear equations, and probability, this book explains middle-school math with problems that kids want. Intriguing facts about the history of math show what a human creation it is: Both the Maya and the Hindus of India invented the concept of zero, but the Maya did it first by 400 years; in 1858 Mr. William Shanks, a British mathematician, hand-calculated pi to 707 decimal digits and had them inscribed on his tombstone! Alas, the last 200 or so were wrong.
Math Games for Middle School Reviews: I teach middle school mathematics and I think the book is great to aid in cooperative learning groups. Using the information and developing work stations will enhance the students’ knowledge of the material. As a lesson, the book would require the creativity of the teacher to add other material and/or adjustments to make it interesting. This book is best for reteaching or review of the topics being taught.
Math Games for Middle School Reviews: Every summer I try and purchase books and magazines in order to find new and interesting lesson plans. I purchased this book thinking I could get at least something new and interesting to excite my kids. This book definitely didnt help. College students would be bored with the books writing style and exercises. And most of the ideas are old and rejected from years past.
Price: $4 to $42