Featuring 41 entirely updated messages and four new ones, this second edition continues to offer straight talk and common sense about some of today’s most important, thought-provoking issues in education. With themes ranging from equity, intelligence, and the incredible potential of all students to challenging students to think with a problem-centered approach focused on student engagement and classroom discourse, the book provides a base for lively discussion among elementary, middle, and high school teachers; leaders; policy makers; and families. Entirely updated, including new messages.

Part 1: National perspective. Message 1. Math for a flattening world -- Message 2. Untapped potential -- Message 3. Making the case for creativity -- Message 4. Good old days -- Message 5. Technology is a tool -- Message 6. "Teach harder!" isn't the answer -- Message 7. Not your grandpa's algebra -- Message 8. More math, more dropouts -- Message 9. When the hammer hits the wall -- Message 10. It's not just about math and reading -- Message 11. Weighing hens -- Message 12. beyond band-aids and bandwagons -- Message 13. Seek first to understand -- Part II: A school perspectiv. Message 14. Balance is basic -- Message 15. Less can be more -- Message 16. Hard arithmetic isn't deep mathematics -- Message 17. Constructive struggling -- Message 18. Faster isn't smarter -- Message 19. Embracing accountability -- Message 20. Putting calculators in their place -- Message 21. No more pilgrim pie -- Message 22. We don't care about the answer -- Message 23. The power of patterns -- Message 24. Do it in your head -- Message 25. Pushing algebra down -- Message 26. Beyond pockets of wonderfulness -- Message 27. A math message to families -- Part III: Real students and real teachers -- Message 28. So now you're a teacher -- Message 29. The evolution of a mathematics teacher -- Message 30. Crystal's calculator -- Message 31. Do they really need it? -- Message 32. Yes, but... -- Message 33. Engaged in what? -- Message 34. Forgetting isn't forever -- Message 35. Putting testing in perspective -- Message 36. I know what an 82 means! -- Message 37. Boring! -- Message 38. Ten kinds of wonderful-- Message 39. Standing on the shoulders... -- Message 40. Seven steps towards being a better math teacher -- Message 41. Thank you, Mr. Bender -- Part IV: Bonus messges for the second edition. Message 42. Girls count too -- Message 43. Are math teachers obsolete? -- Message 44. Who's driving? Message 45. Math is supposed to make sense!.