"Despite experiencing our teaching in different times, we are both oriented to traditional math teaching. It wasn't because we were both taught that way, as some may believe, but because that method worked for us and we have seen it work for our students. It is efficient, effective, non-confusing and helped our students develop mathematical reasoning, understanding, and confidence. Most importantly it helped them to be successful." So begins the book on traditional math, which provides a glimpse of what explicit instruction looks like in the classroom for grades K through 8. Barry Garelick and J.R. Wilson are retired math teachers who describe the methods of traditionally taught math that they used in their teaching. Their descriptions serve two purposes: 1) It provides assurance to teachers who may already practice these methods that they are not alone, and 2) For others, it may provide some new ideas.

"Tell the administration what they want to hear, then do what is best for your students." That's Barry Garelick's philosophy in a nutshell. As the Mark Twain of education writing, this collection of essays chronicles Garelick's experiences at two schools, teaching math. With essays such as, Not Making Sense, and a Conversation I Never Had; "Math Talk", Stalin's Hemorrhoids, and Murder of Crows; and The Parole Officer's Check List, the Dialectic of Competition, and Gnarly Problems, Garelick gives the reader a glimpse into the daily routines of math taught in a verite style and exposes a lot of the edu-crap that teachers hear they are supposed to do, and feel guilty about when they teach in the way they see fit.