The three articles in this cross-journal
“Contemporary Curriculum Issues” series are written by the Educational
Development Center curriculum development team of Cuoco, Goldenberg,
Mark, and Sword. The team pioneered work using mathematical habits of
mind that are central to the work of mathematicians for organizing school
math curricula. Regardless of the level at which you teach, you will find that
each article’s important message is relevant across the grades. The TCM article
considers algebra’s ideas, logic, techniques, and habits of mind, as well as
when and to what extent they can be learned with intellectual integrity in the
elementary school grades before a formal course on algebra. The authors of
the MT article reflect on their work in using the habits-of-mind approach for
organizing high school curricula. They indicate that such an approach offers a
vehicle for paring down the collection of methods and techniques one needs
in high school, leaving a small set of general-purpose tools that tie together
many seemingly different mathematical terrains. Building coherence in the
development of mathematical ideas across the grades is key to improving students’
mathematical learning in the United States. Knowing the mathematical
experiences, understanding, skills, and habits of mind that students bring to
a grade level and what the expectations are for those grades can help teachers
bridge the transitions for students at each end.