Barbara Reys facts for kids
Barbara Jean Bestgen Reys, born in 1953, is an American expert in teaching mathematics. She is famous for her work on "number sense" (understanding numbers) and "mental math" (doing math in your head). She also wrote many math textbooks and helped create rules for what kids learn in elementary school math. She used to be a special professor at the University of Missouri and won a big award from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Her Journey in Math Education
Barbara Reys finished college at the College of the Ozarks in 1975. She started her career as a high school math teacher in Missouri from 1974 to 1977. Later, she taught math to younger students. She was an elementary school teacher from 1979 to 1982 and a junior high school math teacher from 1984 to 1985.
She continued her studies at the University of Missouri. She earned her master's degree in 1979 and her Ph.D. in 1985. Her Ph.D. research was about how seventh and eighth graders do math in their heads.
In 1985, she became a professor at the University of Missouri. She taught in the department that focuses on how to teach different subjects. Over the years, she became a very respected professor. From 2009 to 2011, she was the president of a group called the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. This group helps train teachers who teach math.
Awards and Recognition
Barbara Reys has received several important awards for her work.
- In 2014, the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators honored her as their Judith Jacob's Lecturer. This means she gave a special talk about her work.
- In 2016, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics gave her their Lifetime Achievement Award. This is a very high honor for someone who has spent their life making a big difference in math education.
Books She Wrote
Barbara Reys has written or helped write many books about math and teaching math. Here are some of them:
- Mathematics Curriculum: Issues, Trends, and Future Directions. Seventy-second Yearbook (2010)
- Number Sense: Simple Effective Number Sense Experiences (4 volumes, 1997)
- Mental Math (3 volumes, 1988)
- Mathematics Unlimited (1987)
- GUESS: Guide to Using Estimation Skills and Strategies (1983)
