The Well-Rounded Math Student

Integrate a holistic approach to mathematics success with essential personal and social skills

Teaching math is more than just numbers. It’s about shaping future-ready students who are not only academically strong but thrive socially and emotionally. Research shows that learning both intrapersonal and interpersonal skills helps students academically, and teachers play a crucial role in providing social-emotional support.

The Well-Rounded Math Student helps mathematics teachers in Grades K-12 foster both their students′ academic prowess and their social and emotional development. Through the lens of the Standards for Mathematical Practice, the book emphasizes the importance of intentionally teaching and promoting intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, or "Next Generation" skills, alongside mathematical concepts. The authors provide step-by-step guidance on how small adjustments in lesson planning can have a profound impact on students′ growth.

Providing teachers with a new lens to leverage in their planning as well as concrete ways to use their mathematics lessons to explicitly teach and reinforce social and emotional competencies, this book:

• Holds a strengths-based mindset and approach—for both teachers and students
• Highlights the importance of the science and the art of teaching to enhance social development, human connection, classroom management, and community within classrooms
• Stresses that the overarching goal of education is to help students become responsible adults who are ready for their future
• Includes a lesson planning guide, competency builder activities, vignettes of enhanced lessons across grade bands, reflection questions, and suggestions for taking action

The Well-Rounded Math Student bridges critical intrapersonal and interpersonal elements to help educators create an environment where students excel in math and develop the life skills they’ll carry forever.