Back to school is forefront in our minds … which means homework is, too! Does your middle-school child need a little bit of extra practice with math problems? Perhaps you need a guide that both you and your child can understand as well?!

Darin Beigie, a seasoned math teacher dedicated to helping his students develop a true understanding of math concepts, created Mathematical Reasoning™ Middle School Supplement as a way for students in 7th through 9th grade (aka middle school) develop their critical thinking skills.

What is critical thinking? It’s the ability to fully understand math concepts, instead of just memorizing the answers to problems. Perhaps it could even make math homework fun for your middle schooler!

Please welcome Darin to the Spotlight!

MCA: Welcome to Celebrating Mom’s Choice, Darin! Can you please tell us about what motivated you to create your book?
Darin: I want to provide middle school students with an enrichment resource that connects problem solving with core math content. There is plenty of very good math enrichment available that focuses on brain teasers, puzzles, and contest problems – but this sort of material is often pretty demanding and not closely connected with school mathematics. As a classroom teacher, I am constantly creating math problems that are meant to be engaging and challenging, but also reasonably accessible to students and connected with day-to-day math curriculum. These problems are the source for my book.

MCA: Now that you have an award-winning book, what are your goals for the next year?
Darin: I teach middle school math at Harvard – Westlake School in Los Angeles and will continue to develop new materials for my courses. My mathematical reasoning book is born out of a constant interplay with my students – creating new lessons and math problems and seeing how the students react to them. My most important goal is to continue this process and to keep evolving.

I also want to spread the word about my book and my ideas about teaching math – to expose parents, teachers, and students to an enrichment resource that infuses more critical thinking in middle school math. [amazon_link id=”1601444117″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link]

MCA: Please name three ways your Mom’s Choice Award® will help you attain your goals.
Darin: It is well known that math education in the United States could measure up better against a worldwide standard. I started creating original materials for my students because I felt the need to provide them more opportunity to problem solve and think critically while learning content.

The recognition from Mom’s Choice Award® will help me gain attention with my effort to make my materials available to others. The parent network is a powerful one, so I am glad that MCA will help me tap into the parent community.

MCA: Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as in creating your award-winning book?
Darin: The most important thing I have learned goes back to my very first days of teaching: I want my students to have math problems and materials that ask them to think more – to make decisions and be creative. My commitment to this process continues to grow and develop. Good teachers need to be open to change and to keep learning from their students.

MCA: Since launching your book, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Darin: I give talks at math conferences and regularly publish articles in math education journals. These efforts are less about my book and more about sharing my ideas and experience with others – in a sense it is all part of the same package. My favorite memories are with the creation process behind the book through interaction with my students.

It is the students who breathe life into the critical thinking process.

MCA: As a new honoree, do you have any questions you’d like some of the “old hands” to answer for you?
Darin: When I was in middle school I would have benefited from enrichment materials in math – in a sense, my book is intended to provide parents, teachers, and students with an opportunity for enrichment. What are some good ways to make parents and teachers aware of my resource?

Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors

[amazon_link id=”1601444117″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link]Mathematical Reasoning™ Middle School Supplement
by Darin Beigie
The Critical Thinking Co.
Gold – Young Adult Book
Ages 12 -18 Nonfiction

Contact, Connect, and Network with Darin

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Award® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.