Nix the Tricks Book Study – Chapter 8: Conclusion
This post is the last of an ongoing book study series on Nix the Tricks, by Tina Cardone. Over the past several weeks, a group of math teachers has worked through each chapter, reflecting on how shortcuts shape student understanding and how we might replace tricks with sense-making. This final chapter provides space to step back and reflect on the journey as a whole. The conclusion of Nix the Tricks feels less like an ending and more like a challenge. Rather than presenting a resolution, it challenged us to sit with some uncomfortable truths about our instruction and think carefully about what we pass on to students. One idea resonated strongly with our group: students often arrive with a toolbox full of tricks already. Before we can nix them, we need to stop adding more. Acknowledging Our Role Many of us acknowledge that the tricks discussed in this book are not always ones we actively teach. Instead, they are habits students bring with them from previous courses, tutoring se...