Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Literature Review
Lauren Gilster
12 May 2018
Dr. Pengilly
Abstract
This paper reviews the book What’s math got to do with it?: How teachers and parents can
transform mathematics learning and inspire success, by Jo Boaler. This book supports Domain
Literature Review
In today’s classroom culture, many students have such a negative view of mathematics.
Many students cannot see how they will ever use mathematics in their lives. In the book, What’s
math got to do with it?, written by Jo Boaler, this phenomenon is discussed in detail. The book
begins with the chapter “What is Math?” Boaler (2015) explains that when students are asked
about what math is, they give a simple answer like “‘numbers’ or ‘lots of rules’” (p. 15), when in
reality math is the study of patterns and connected ideas. There is this distorted view of
mathematics that makes it so the material is not relatable. Domain A from the TPE’s explains
that teachers need to be able to make the subject matter comprehensible to students. In this
book, Boaler (2015) explains what math is and how both teachers and parents can change the
This book expands on the fact that students need to have an understanding of what math
is and how to think about math. In the second chapter of the book, Boaler (2015) talks about
why there is a problem in the classroom when it comes to the understanding of mathematical
concepts and their application. “Whenever students offer a solution to a math problem, they
should know why the solution is appropriate, and they should draw from mathematical rules and
principles when they justify the solution rather than just saying that a textbook or a teacher told
them it was right” (p. 49). Thus, in order to begin making the subject matter comprehensible for
the students, they need to understand the reason behind the concepts. The students need to
understand that math is discoverable, rather than just facts and rules that they are required to
follow. “Reasoning and justifying are both critical acts, and it is very difficult to engage in them
Another way to make the subject matter comprehensible for all students is to make sure
that students are able to use a wide variety of tools in order to demonstrate their understanding.
accounts tell us. It involves asking questions, drawing pictures and graphs, re-phrasing
procedures. Instead of just rewarding the correct use of procedures, the teachers
encouraged and rewarded all of these different ways of being mathematical. (p. 83)
There are so many different ways that students can prove their comprehension. It is the
responsibility of the teacher to make sure that the students are able to show this through their
work. They should have the opportunity to show what they know through their preferred
method.
LITERATURE REVIEW 5
References
Boaler, J. (2015). What’s math got to do with it?: How teachers and parents can transform