Acknowledgments
- Page ID
- 60351
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I especially want to warmly thank and acknowledge Julian Weissglass, University of California, Santa Barbara. It was his book, Exploring Elementary Mathematics: A Small-Group Approach for Teaching, that inspired me to teach using the small-group approach, and to eventually write my own book. He was a pioneer of the collaborative approach to teaching mathematics to prospective elementary school teachers. In his approach, students worked cooperatively as they learned together in small groups using manipulatives to understand the concepts. Unlike most mathematics majors, I took the two course mathematics sequence designed for prospective elementary teachers (because it looked fun and interesting — not because it was a requirement). In fact, I used Dr. Weissglass's book when I took the classes at U.C.S.B. in the late 1970's as an undergraduate. Many of the ideas and exercises in my modules came about from the ones presented in his book. He has been gracious in encouraging me to pursue writing my own modules. I owe him a debt of gratitude.
I gratefully acknowledge the MiraCosta College Governing Board for granting the sabbatical leave that allowed me to begin the long term project of writing this book. I also thank my many colleagues who supported my decision to take some time off from teaching in order to work on this book.
Many students over the years encouraged (even begged) me to write my own book — and now that I have begun, they have continuously asked me to finish it! I feel particularly indebted to those students who help me improve this book as they inadvertently edit it by finding typos and other mistakes, and give suggestions for improvement. Their patience in being amongst the first to use it, in its not so polished form, is greatly appreciated!