This document is designed to help teachers of Mathematics 8 and 9 in British Columbia (BC) extend their existing practice to incorporate new approaches that make the BC school system more reflective of the realities of First Peoples in this province and improve overall levels of student success when it comes to meeting provincially prescribed standards for mathematics at these grade levels. It is based on the belief that by bringing content, perspectives, and teaching approaches associated with First Peoples into the math classroom, teachers will: help all students better appreciate the presence and importance of mathematics and mathematical thinking within all human cultures and activities; give all students a better sense of the significant place of First Peoples within the historical and contemporary fabric of this province; help their Aboriginal students in particular to feel more comfortable in mathematics learning situations and more motivated to participate and focus û thus becoming able to learn more effectively, experience increased academic success, and develop numeracy concepts and skills for lifelong use. Recognizing that effective teaching practice involves balancing a large number of pedagogical considerations, this guide offers not only some instructional planning suggestions, but also some guiding principles associated with First Peoples learning and teaching and some explanations of what is involved in culturally sensitive education; suggestions for identifying and addressing the needs and interests of individual students; concrete and specific ideas for obtaining help creating an authentic First Nations context for learning; selective suggestions and evaluations regarding additional resources that can be accessed for further material. Further, recognizing the wide diversity that exists among students with respect to background, learning style, and personal preference, this teacher guide situates mathematics in relation to different areas of study as well as in relation to a variety of job-specific applications within the world of work.

"Updated August 2011"--p. 4. Title from e-book home page (viewed February 24, 2015). Electronic reproduction. At head of title: Math First Peoples. "Math First Peoples" is an initiative of First Nations Education Steering Committee to make the wisdom of Elders and educators within British Columbia’s First Peoples communities a part of mathematics teaching and learning around the province. Supported by the BC Ministry of Education, Math First Peoples is grounded in the acknowledgment that increased levels of academic success among students need not necessarily require modification of the provincially prescribed curriculum for this subject.

Acknowledgments -- About this Guide -- What Is Math First Peoples? -- First Peoples Principles of Learning -- First Peoples Principles of Mathematical Teaching -- Making Connections -- Making Connections with Members of Local First Peoples Communities -- Making Connections between Mathematics and Indigenous Knowledge -- Making Connections with Your Students -- Making Connections with First Peoples Themes and Topics -- Sample Unit Plans: Grade 8 Units: Unit 1: Cooking with Fractions -- Unit 2: Mapping and Transportation -- Unit 3: Bentwood Boxes -- Unit 4: Games of Chance -- Grade 9 Units: Unit 5: Hunting -- Unit 6: Circle Dwellings -- Unit 7: Button Blankets -- Unit 8: Statistics and Salmon -- Supplemental Unit: The Water Keepers -- Context --Grade 8 Unit -- Grade 9 Unit -- Resource Suggestions .