This 130-page monograph provides an overview of effective professional development related to standards-based mathematics education. The book includes discussions of successful professional development programs for grades K-12 as well as descriptions of theories and empirical data related to professional development.

The authors state that the "main purpose of this monograph is to identify and critically examine these promising professional development practices, with the goal of enabling professional development providers and users to better evaluate how each can best be used to support school mathematics reform" (p. vii). The authors also intend to "synthesize and critique theoretical and empirical contributions by looking at the published literature and the informal knowledge shared among successful practitioners" (p. viii). The primary audience for the book is "those who design and facilitate professional development for mathematics teachers of all grade levels," although the authors also include "a wide range of education professionals who are consumers of professional development [such as] administrators who make decisions about the kind of professional development that should take place in their district, teachers who must choose professional development initiatives to participate in, and officials at government agencies and private foundations who fund teacher enhancement programs" (p. viii).

This monograph is a useful, well-organized document with extremely current information about professional development for teachers of standards-based mathematics. The first part of the book addresses the following questions: "What are the needs of teachers who are engaged in school mathematics reform?", "What does effective professional development look like?", and "What are key similarities and differences in successful professional development programs?" The first chapter introduces nine categories of "teacher learning needs" (p. 10) and describes them in detail, with relevant research cited. Chapters 2 and 3 describe and compare two different types of professional development models, synthesizing five characteristics of effective professional development.

Five major types of professional development experiences are described in each of the chapters in Part II. These types of professional development are identified as "engaging in mathematical experiences-as-learners," "analyzing students’ thinking," "discussing cases," "engaging in scaffolded instructional innovation," and "gathering and making sense of information." These chapters provide detailed, yet succinct consideration of the salient points related to each of these professional development structures. Each chapter is organized in the same sections: "Theoretical rationale and empirical support;" "Illustrations;" "Main elements and variations;" "Teacher learning needs addressed;" and "Summary."

This book is structured for clarity of both purpose and content. It effectively classifies and evaluates various professional growth experiences to allow for both choosing one and judging its effectiveness. The authors are careful to stress that no one program will fulfill all the needs of teacher-learners, and that the specific needs of any particular group must be considered in choosing the best type of program. Much research is cited, making the book a valuable tool for those looking for empirical evidence on professional development models.

Reviewers agreed that this book is a valuable resource for anyone involved in designing and/or providing professional development related to standards-based mathematics education. Each of the five types of professional development presented in Part II of the book is described in enough depth that professional developers could choose to implement a similar approach. Suggestions for time frames are given, and professional developers could adapt one or several of these approaches to meet participants’ needs. The book also provides extensive research that could be used to select and justify the use of specific forms of professional development.

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