Creating a Community of Students
that make sense of Mathematical Ideas
TIME
- To work through open ended problems
- To discuss solutions to problems
- For students to discuss their thinking
- For regular Number Talks/Math Talks
Open ended solutions
Number Talks
Shows alternative thinking for traditional math methods
Strategies to Solve Math Problems
Space
- Room arrangement allows students to work together in groups
- A range of hands-on materials and math tools are easily accessible
- Prompting charts are created with student input and displayed for student use
- Routines that support conceptual understanding of current curriculum goals are present and followed
Hand Signals Show Undersanding and Self-Check
Math Tool Kit
5th grade-tools to solve any problem that comes their way!
Easy Access
Students can easily use block, shapes, or counters to solve their math related problems.
Atmosphere
- Students are comfortable taking risks
- Mistakes are considered opportunities for discussion and growth
- Students are actively discussing and defending their mathematical positions
- Students encourage each other
TEAMWORK
By "Airplaying" iPads, students can see how others answered the same math problem
Student share
Explaining their thinking through drawing and labeling
Student Math Talk
Even in a math game, students can still assist to show others what they know.
Flexibility
- The lessons are a mix of small group, whole group and individual work
- There is a balance of instruction in conceptual and procedural math
- The teacher allow students time and suppports their efforts to make sense of math
- Opportunities beyond the textbook are intentionally included to support deeper understanding of mathematical concepts
Whole Group
All eyes on teacher to understand what the lesson will hold.
Thinking Partners Share Their Work
Pairs work to talk through problems together.
Individuals
Math facts to show what they learned as whole group
Sense Making
- Opportunities for math discussions, math connections, and reflection require students to describe and analyze their thinking
- Students write about math
- Students explain, justify and reason