Focused on all the complex aspects of teaching mathematics in today's classroom — and the most current NCTM recommendations and standards — this text shows students how to creatively incorporate the Standards into their teaching — along with inquiry instructional strategies (for leading pupils to do meaningful mathematics) and direct strategies (for developing mathematical skills). Interactive in approach, it includes an abundance of illustrative examples, numerous cases, one expansive case study that follows a mathematics teacher through his first year in the profession, cooperative learning activities, field-based activities, and transitional activities.