Dr. Joan A. Cotter received her Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Madison, Master in Curriculum and Instruction from University of St. Thomas, MN, and her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the University of Minnesota. Joan worked as an engineer, quitting after she became a mother. Joan started a Montessori school and taught children, ages 3-6 years, as a Montessori teacher. She studied the Suzuki method and used it to teach violin and piano to young children. When one of her children had difficulties with math facts, she devised card games that became the basis of her first book, Math Card Games: 300 Games for Learning and Enjoying Math. She also tutored children with learning differences and taught middle school math in a private school. Dr. Cotter designed the double sided AL Abacus and wrote RightStartTM Mathematics, a comprehensive elementary and middle school mathematics program that incorporates visualization, the AL Abacus, and math card games. The RightStart curriculum is an outgrowth of her doctoral research. Joan has served as a church council member and is currently a reader at her church. She is physically active with swimming, bicycling, rollerblading, ice skating, unicycling, cross-country skiing, and walking. Joan and her husband, Al, have three adult children and four grandchildren. She is currently writing a book on teaching mathematics, as well as conducting workshops and presenting at conferences nationally and internationally. She has spoken at numerous Montessori conventions, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conventions, Association of Teachers of Mathematics in England two separate times, ICME in Spain, Mexico, and Tokyo, and all over Canada and the United States. Her vision is to have children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics.  

Dr. Joan A. Cotter Presentations
(Click any presentation to see description.)

Rightstart Math Using the AL Abacus

Teaching Elementary Math With Understanding

Fractions the Way You Wish You Had Been Taught

Math is Much More Than a Set of Skills

Does It Matter How We Teach Math?

Teaching the Math Trio: Concepts, Facts, and Problem Solving

Fractions Fuss Free!

Elementary Geometry for the Home Educator

Math Puzzles and Brain Teasers

Let’s Play with Math

The Five Q’s of Healthy Living

Rightstart Math Using the AL Abacus

Learn about an approach that uses the visual part of the brain and language to help children understand numbers and place value. Counting on fingers, flash cards, and tears need not be part of the equation. The AL abacus, math games, and other tools help visual, tactile, and auditory learners.
(Return to Presentation List)

Teaching Elementary Math With Understanding

Learn the importance of language and visualization in teaching mathematics. Find out how to teach the facts and operations with real understanding, using strategies and games.
(Return to Presentation List)

Fractions the Way You Wish You Had Been Taught

For many people fractions are as exciting as a bone fracture. And thinking of pie doesn't help much. See a collection of improper textbooks portrayals that may explain why you and your child don't understand this high point of arithmetic. Learn about a visualizable model that reduces fractions to the basics. Joan A. Cotter, Ph.D., a former junior high math teacher and engineer, will also shows ways to understand multiplying and dividing fractions and a few games to practice the concepts.
(Return to Presentation List)

Math is Much More Than a Set of Skills

Joan A. Cotter, Ph.D., author of RightStart™ Mathematics, explains why math is much more than memorizing facts and practicing skills. Math is discovering patterns and relationships. Even young children want and need to understand (remember the "why's"?). Reduce rote memorizing by incorporating the child's natural ability to visualize. Five-month-old babies can add and subtract up to three. They are seeing the quantities in their minds and are not counting. Math games are the best way to provide practice for mastering the facts. This workshop will introduce you to a new way to teach math--one both you and your child will enjoy.
(Return to Presentation List)

Does It Matter How We Teach Math?

Should your child learn math the way you learned math? Millions of people dislike math because of the way they were taught. We now have new information on how to foster learning. Explore the various ways to teach math and the benefits of each.
(Return to Presentation List)

Teaching the Math Trio: Concepts, Facts, and Problem Solving

Which is most important when teaching elementary mathematics: concepts, facts, or problem solving? Hear how all three must work together to foster critical thinking. Learn how teaching this trio can be productive and exciting.
(Return to Presentation List)

Fractions Fuss Free!

Children often have difficulty with fractions because they see only the parts of the fraction, and not the whole. Anyone, age 6 and up, can understand fractions with the linear model. This fraction review will give you confidence in teaching (or reteaching) this important topic.
(Return to Presentation List)

Elementary Geometry for the Home Educator

Geometry is now included on standardized tests during the elementary years. Discover how to use drawing boards, T-squares, and triangles to construct geometric figures. This work combines with other math skills such as measurement, symmetry, and fractions, providing an excellent foundation for Euclid geometry in high school.
(Return to Presentation List)

Math Puzzles and Brain Teasers

Encourage your child to learn higher-level mathematical thinking. In Asian cultures, families play with numbers the way Americans play with words. This may help explain why they succeed in math. Let’s explore some math puzzles and brain teasers than can be used in the car, on a hike, or at the dinner table.
(Return to Presentation List)

Let’s Play with Math

Is your goal in teaching math to help your child add, subtract, multiply, and divide fluently? If so, come find out how you can accomplish that and so much more through games, puzzles, and fun. Learn how you can help your children become lifelong lovers of mathematical thinking.
(Return to Presentation List)

The Five Q’s of Healthy Living

Dr. Joan A. Cotter has developed the five Q’s of healthy living: Quality, Quantity, Quietness, Quickness, and Quest. Hear about some tips to help you and your family live a healthier balanced life.
(Return to Presentation List)