Generally, when a class of students solves a problem they produce a range of answers. Some students may have the ‘right’ answer, others will have answers that reflect typical errors, and one or two students may have answers that are surprising. Teachers...
Sometimes we assume that students will just know how to work cooperatively with another person or in a group. If you find that your students do not work well together, or tend to get off task when working with a partner or group, teach them how. It is important...
Give students mathematical language by connecting it to the colloquial terms they are using. When children have access to precise vocabulary, they can express their ideas more clearly and feel more confident to participate in discussions. I love the Collect and...
Use Models to support mathematics! Models are a wonderful way to “see” mathematics and to help students make sense of important mathematical concepts. “Mathematical modeling refers to the process of creating a mathematical representation of a real-world scenario...
Many students arrive in our classrooms with a negative self-image of themselves as mathematicians. They may not have experienced success in their previous classes and think of themself as “not a math person.” Images can help break down the hesitancy some students feel...
Turn and talks are often one of the first strategies teachers use to get students talking in their math classrooms. To be honest, they’re often one of my first recommendations when I’m coaching teachers as well. In a teacher-centered classroom where students are used...
