Review of
Mathematics
For Secondary School Teachers, by Elizabeth G.
Bremigan, Ralph K. Bremigan and John D. Lorch, The Mathematical Association of
America, Washington D. C., 2011. 417 pp., $64.95 (hardbound). ISBN
9780883857731.
Five out of five stars
As the
classification indicates, this is a textbook for students studying to be a
secondary school math teacher. The content and tones are both targeted at the
individual that will have to understand and present mathematics to middle and
high school students. The coverage is what it should be, the only points of
dispute would be the depth and the order of presentation.
The order of
presentation is often a topic of disagreement, yet in most cases it makes
little difference. For example, there will be people that will question the
logic of making the chapters with titles
“Numbers,” “Operations in Number Systems” and “Topics in Number Systems”
numbers six, seven and eight, after chapters on functions, lines, polynomials
and trigonometry. The chapter on measurement is the last chapter in the book. Given
the independence of these chapters, they could easily be presented out of
order.
The level of
rigor is again a debatable point, there are some that will decry the lack while
others will consider it excessive. I consider this instance to be a
“Goldilocks” phenomenon. There are sets of exercises at the end of the sections
but no solutions or even hints are included in the book.
One interesting
feature is the use of reproductions of actual student handwritten solutions to
a problem referenced in the chapter. They are a demonstration of some of the
most common errors made by students.
If you are
looking for a textbook for a class designed to educate secondary school
mathematics teachers, this one will work for you.
This book was made available for free for review
purposes
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0883857731?keywords=9780883857731&qid=1456794862&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1