Eva Thanheiser

When Liliana has her first day at a new school, she’s nervous about making new friends, and a math problem in her class doesn’t help. After she shares her abuela’s strategy for solving the problem, some of her classmates don’t understand or think her way is wrong. Liliana’s teacher, Ms. Edwards, asks her friend Marcia Ascher, a professor and mathematician, to describe to the students how different cultures have their own ways of doing math. In Knotting Numbers, you can learn alongside Liliana and her classmates as Professor Ascher explains that there isn’t always just one way to solve a math problem—which makes math even more interesting for everyone! Knotting Numbers is part of the Powerful Mathematicians Who Changed the World book series. Edited by Christa Jackson and illustrated by Estrella Bascuñan, the Powerful Mathematicians who Changed the World book series centers on underrepresented mathematicians we do not typically hear or learn about in school. By reading the stories, you and your child will gain insight into the remarkable work of these mathematicians, learn about their mathematical contributions, and become more intrigued and see yourself more as learners and doers of mathematics. You and your child will see how mathematics helps us understand the world in which we live through these captivating stories. You will witness your own mathematical brilliance.

"If you teach middle school math and have wanted to promote social justice, but haven’t been sure how to get started, you need to check out this book. It incorporates lessons you can use immediately as well as how to foster the kind of classroom community where students will thrive. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to have alongside you to support you throughout your journey." Robert Kaplinsky Author and Consultant Long Beach, CA Empower young adolescents to be the change—join the teaching mathematics for social justice movement! Students of all ages and intersecting identities—through media and their lived experiences— bear witness to and experience social injustices and movements around the world for greater justice. However, when people think of social justice, mathematics rarely comes to mind. With a user-friendly design, this book brings middle school mathematics content to life by connecting it to issues students see or experience. Developed for use by Grades 6-8 educators, the contributed model lessons in this book walk teachers through the process of applying critical frameworks to instruction, using standards-based mathematics to explore, understand, and respond to social injustices. Learn to plan daily instruction that engages young adolescents in mathematics explorations through age-appropriate, culturally relevant topics such as health and economic inequality, human and civil rights, environmental justice, and accessibility. Features include: Content cross-referenced by mathematical concept and social issuesConnection to Learning for Justice’s social justice standardsDownloadable teacher materials and lesson resourcesGuidance for lessons driven by young adolescents’ unique passions and challengesConnections between research and practice Written for teachers committed to developing equitable and empowering practices through the lens of mathematics content and practice standards as well as social justice standards, this book will help connect content to young adolescents’ daily lives, strengthen their mathematical understanding, and expose them to issues that will support them in becoming active agents of change and responsible leaders.