Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain: Sequences and Behaviour to Enable Mathematical Thinking in the Classroom - by Craig Barton (Paperback)

About the Book

Craig Barton, maths teacher and best-selling author of 'How I wish I'd taught maths', offers an approach to help all our students think mathematically. It requires the careful sequencing of questions and examples, the role of the teacher, and the mathematical behaviour of our students. It has transformed his teaching.

Book Synopsis

Some students think mathematically. They have the curiosity to notice relationships, the confidence to ask why, and the knowledge to understand the answer. They are the lucky ones. Many others just "do" maths. They look at a question, think about how to answer it, answer it, and then move on.

In this book, Craig Barton, maths teacher and best-selling author of How I wish I'd taught maths, offers an approach to help all our students think mathematically. It requires the careful sequencing of questions and examples, the role of the teacher, and the mathematical behaviour of our students. It has transformed his teaching.

Drawing upon research into the Self-Explanation Effect, the Hypercorrection Effect and Variation Theory, together with two years of developing this approach with teachers and students around the world, Craig describes exactly what this looks like in the classroom. But be warned: not everyone agrees. Indeed, it is this very approach that led to Craig being labelled as "the most dangerous and clueless man in maths education."

If that is not a recommendation to keep reading, we don't know what is.

Review Quotes

This is another game-changer of a book from the formidable Mr Barton. --Jo Morgan

This is such an ambitious and compelling work, and I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite like it before. Has a teacher ever defended their ideas at this length and with so much compelling specificity? The ideas are delivered so clearly and in such good humor, I know I'll be coming back to this tome for years. Honestly, I'm blown away. --Michael Pershan, math teacher, New York City

Craig Barton is a maths superhero - energetic, dynamic and with a clear mission to strengthen maths eduction in the UK. --Alex Bellos, author, Alex s Adventures in Numberland

About the Author

Craig Barton has been teaching maths for 15 years. He is the Head of Education at Eedi, the TES Maths Adviser, the author of the best-selling How I wish I'd taught maths, the host of the Mr. Barton Maths Podcast, and the creator of mrbartonmaths.com, diagnosticquestions.com, variationtheory.com, ssddproblems.com and mathsvenns.com. His two proudest achievements are convincing Kate to marry him, and being the father to their wonderful baby boy, Isaac.