The techniques described here are based on a classroom project conducted between 2006 and 2009; the book includes many real-life classroom dialogues and discussions between teachers and students from the project. The project and the book are based on the idea that students will be better prepared for algebra if they are taught to investigate the behavior of operations, notice commonalities across problems, make generalizations, and prove or disprove these generalizations. The book begins with two chapters introducing generalization in the context of arithmetic. Later chapters give ideas for lessons, differentiating instruction, and suggestions for using arithmetic and algebraic notation and proofs in elementary grades. The book is designed to be a text for a year-long course conducted face to face or online; guidelines for conducting an online course available online. The book can also be used in study groups for in-service teachers. Russell is a principal scientist at the Education Research Collaborative at TERC. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)