presents:

The past two decades have revealed vast new findings on how our brains understand and use numbers. While the results have been published in scientific journals, little of it has found its way into our curricula. Wiring the Brain for Mathematics is intended to bridge the gap between contemporary research and current practice by focusing on the neuroscience of numeracy; that is, what takes place in our brain as we learn to count, compute and solve problems. It is suitable for all teachers of mathematics, from pre-k through high school
  • What kind of mathematics comes wired into the brain from birth?
  • Do we all bring the same ability to understand mathematical concepts and develop mathematical skills?
  • What is it that makes some children better at mathematics than others?
  • What are the different ways that numbers are encoded in the brain?
  • How does the brain interpret numbers differently, depending on contex?
  • How should we use numbers so that our students will best understand them?
  • Why are multiplication facts so hard for our students to learn? (hint: it has nothing to do with numbers!)
  • How can we help students develop better problem solving skills?
  • How can we reduce anxiety in our classrooms, yet make our lessons efficient and even fun?

Participants will receive a comprehensive booklet answering fundamental questions about the neuroscience of numeracy, as well as a bibliography of relevant books, articles and software, in addition to sample activities to try out in their classrooms.

Robert M. Berkman has been teaching mathematics for over 30 years in both private and public schools in New York City. His work has appeared in Teaching Children Mathematics and Mathematics in the Middle School, both published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM.) He has given presentations at conferences sponsored by the NCTM and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), in addition to teaching graduate school courses at the Bank Street College of Education and New York University's Steinhardt School of Education. Robert coordinates the math program at the Manhattan Country School, a progressive-activist school in East Harlem for children ages 4 - 14. He is also the founder and director of Better Living Through Mathematics, an educational consortium that provides innovative and dynamic mathematics programs and materials for teachers, children and parents.He publishes math curricula under the name SamizdatMath at TeachersPayTeachers, an online store for educational materials.
Email: info@wtbmath.com
Phone: 718 909-8343