Math Talk - Promoting Higher Level Thinking
Can't remember if I've told y'all about the very cool Math training I went through last year. Very intense. I learned a lot. I spent at least 3 hours a month all year learning about 2nd grade math. Best part: the class was split into 2 equal shares - mathematical thinking and fostering math talk.
For real, it has changed me, as both a teacher and a mathematician. Example: I now always calculate tip in my head. (Really and truly, I was one of those folks who used the tip calculator on my phone... Not proud of it, just sayin.') Another example, I never ever tell kiddos they "can't" take a larger number away from a smaller number. Everyone know why? Because a few years later, they'll be expected to learn about negative numbers!! We'll be discouraging their mathematical thinking before it even begins. Now I say, "If you subtract a larger number from a smaller number, you'll have to work with a negative number, and you won't be learning about those for a few more years, so let's see if we need to ungroup instead."
Truly, It's the little things that make a huge difference. Like with Math Talk. Here's a link to a little freebie I used with my awesome teammate Casey last year when we were both fostering math talk with cue cards for the kiddos to refer to.
For real, it has changed me, as both a teacher and a mathematician. Example: I now always calculate tip in my head. (Really and truly, I was one of those folks who used the tip calculator on my phone... Not proud of it, just sayin.') Another example, I never ever tell kiddos they "can't" take a larger number away from a smaller number. Everyone know why? Because a few years later, they'll be expected to learn about negative numbers!! We'll be discouraging their mathematical thinking before it even begins. Now I say, "If you subtract a larger number from a smaller number, you'll have to work with a negative number, and you won't be learning about those for a few more years, so let's see if we need to ungroup instead."
Truly, It's the little things that make a huge difference. Like with Math Talk. Here's a link to a little freebie I used with my awesome teammate Casey last year when we were both fostering math talk with cue cards for the kiddos to refer to.
Also, I created a huge bundle of Higher Level Thinking Questions for Math Talk. Click the pic below to take a closer look and then try the preview to download 6 free cards to try in your classroom.
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To me, the concept of encouraging discourse in math is very similar to methods I have always used to promote higher-level discourse in ELA. How do you foster Math Talk in your classroom?
The math training that I've had in the past few years has totally changed how I think about and use math as an adult for sure. I totally understand! And yes, I've come to realize how important math talks are.
ReplyDelete❀ Tammy
Forever in First
I like the cards! I always try to answer kids with a question- I always want to hear what they think and their reasoning on why they think that or to just cause the kids to talk to their math partners about it.
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