Developing a community of trust and dialogue especially in Math is crucial. Math is a scary subject for some of my students, but what I want to develop are students who LOVE math. One way I try to do this is with Math Talk. Every day students are encouraged to chat and talk about how they solve math problems. I post a word problem for students to solve at the start of the class, and students are asked to solve the problem using what they know, their own math strategies! Believe me when I say this, but students come to us with math knowledge and strategies. When they get to school, the teacher imposes strategies on them and all their thinking gets muddled by doing what the teacher says is right! One way I help encourage students to share their strategies is through a handout I created called, "Strategy Share." During independent time or at the start of math class, I have students solve problems, and then partner up with someone to share their strategy. This form was created to document their "Math Talk" and how I want them to "try out" someone else's strategy!
AuthorMy name is Kathleen. I am a middle school teacher and a co-site coordinator for Phoenix Learning Center in Encinitas, a program based out of Julian Charter School. Archives
August 2014
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