Ana Casillas

Annotated Bibliography
Technology in the Classroom
1) Desmos- https://teacher.desmos.com/
Desmos is an excellent resource to use both in and out of the classroom. It provides
students with the opportunity to model concepts such as functions and linear equations
in an interactive way and can be used as a guiding tool to incorporate alongside the
instructional side of lessons as well.

2) GeoGebra- https://www.geogebra.org/
Geogebra, like desmos, is a good interactive tool to incorporate into the classroom. Its
primary use would be for geometric modeling purposes and to have students explore the
properties of lines, angles, shapes, etc. Construction is a key component of geometry to
have students understand why theorems are said to be true instead of just being told
that they are.

Discourse/Discussion Resources
3) Real World Problems- https://robertkaplinsky.com/lessons/
Real World problems are a MUST in classrooms because making the content relevant
allows for the students to form connections and relate to the material. It promotes the
opportunity to take interest in what they are learning. Oftentimes students resist learning
new material that they may find particularly challenging because they do not understand
it’s relevance or see how they would ever be in a situation where they would use this
new information. Robert Kaplinsky does and excellent job creating real world problems
that students can still relate to while still being challenged enough to dig a little deeper.

4) Open Middle- https://www.openmiddle.com/

Open Middle is a resource I like to use to spark conversation in the classroom. Not only
does it encourage students to think about concepts in a nontraditional way, but it also
promotes critical thinking and strategic problem solving opportunities for students. Also,
what’s nice is that you can be given a problem and not be told which skills or concepts
you “should” be applying to solve the problem. It's a unique tool to assess how students
are perceiving problems without having them think that they are being assessed– and
students have the chance to go about a problem however they please and come up with
their own conclusions and justifications.

5) NCTM– https://nctm.org/
NCTM offers classroom resources that encourage curiosity and present students with
problems or videos that are geared towards problem based learning. These
representations are created to invoke curiosity in students and have them “wonder” why
something is the way it is or works the way it does. It is an excellent source to
incorporate into lessons to make the content more relatable and enjoyable for students
because they will not be told why or how to think– but to just discuss what they wonder
and to create their own conjectures without even realizing!
Instructional Practices
6) “Continuing the Journey: Mathematics Learning 2021 and Beyond”-
NCTM/NCSM/ASSM
As a prospective educator it is important to acknowledge the various challenges
students had to endure as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and the impacts it had on
student learning all across the board. It presents questions as well as topics to consider
with respect to the challenges that are now brought on back in the classroom post-
pandemic and online learning. This article also delves into areas that have implications
for equitable access to quality mathematical instruction and learning.

7) Knudsen, J., et al. (2018). Mathematical Argumentation In Middle School– The What,
Why, and How. Corwin.
I like this resource because it is particularly helpful in providing insight on how to tailor
your lessons to foster content-driven argumentation in the classroom and serves as a
guide including: ways to facilitate mathematical thinking and learning, promote precision
when it comes to constructing viable arguments, and the process to go about
constructing valid arguments. This book also has access to content focused tasks and
activities as well as additional resources to help produce meaningful discourse in the
classroom.

Differentiation
8) Illustrative Mathematics– https://illustrativemathematics.org/
Illustrative Mathematics offers a variety of approaches on how to modify curriculum to
better provide an equitable learning environment for all students. In particular I like their
“IM Integrated Guidance” article that details pathways to take when planning instruction
and proposing a different pathway to transform the course into an integrated sequence.
Illustrative mathematics is also beneficial to use in general for instructional planning.

Growth Mindset
9) SanGiovanni, J.J., et al. (2020). Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for
Fostering Perseverance. Corwin Press, Inc.
This resource offers pointers on how to foster perseverance for students and dives into
what productive struggle is, looks like, and ways of supporting it so that it is in fact,
productive. The six specific actions the authors discuss include: valuing, fostering,
building, planning, supporting, and reflecting on your struggle. The key idea is to portray
math as a way of thinking and understanding, not just as a way of finding answers
through set procedures. This book encourages including opportunities for productive
struggle and was empowering students to embrace that struggle.
Multiculturalism
10) Asgedom, M. & Even, J. (2017). Empowering English Learners For Classroom Success.
Mawi Learning, Inc.
This book offers methods for academic and socio-emotional growth for students–
specifically EL learners. It covers the importance of addressing a student’s mindset as
well as ways of guiding them towards a growth mindset to encourage growth. Also, the
author talks about how crucial it is to foster relationships with your students, not just
inside the classroom, but also with their families to better connect with the students
culture and demonstrate that their culture is not just accepted but welcomed in the
classroom. This book also touches base on coping mechanisms to provide for EL
learners, and language acquisition skills that will help them succeed in the classroom.