Suzanne Chapin

Professor of Education
BA, Duke University; MEd, EdD, Boston University

Dr. Chapin’s research and teaching interests are in mathematics curricula, professional development of teachers, gifted education, and mathematical discourse. She has written and collaborated on several books in these areas including Math Matters: Understanding the Math You Teach Grades 1–7 (2006) and the second edition of Classroom Discussions: Using Math Talk to Help Students Learn (2009). Her work on the Mentoring Mathematical Minds series (12 books for gifted students in grades 3–5) has won “best curriculum” awards for the past five years from the National Association of Gifted Children. She also is one of the senior authors of a new middle school mathematics curriculum for students in grades 6–8, Math Innovations. Dr. Chapin is currently principal investigator of two Noyce Scholars Programs in Mathematics which prepares undergraduate mathematics majors and other professionals for teaching careers as middle and high school teachers in urban school districts. Her research interests focus on the role of classroom discourse in the learning and teaching of mathematics and on factors that contribute to successful professional development programs in mathematics. She directs the Elementary Mathematics Pre-Service Project researching the role of inquiry-based problem solving tasks through discourse on undergraduates’ knowledge of mathematics for teaching. A consultant to school districts on reforming school mathematics, she is a frequent speaker at national conferences and meetings of mathematics teachers.