When we take the time to engage in meaningful conversations (productive dialogue) about our math experiences and encourage students to participate, we're nurturing a supportive culture of questioning, reflection, and understanding.
One of the key factors in math achievement involves supporting math language development. This includes asking critical questions, encouraging students to seek clarity, and accepting our failures as opportunities for real growth. In doing this, we're motivating and encouraging students to work together to facilitate productive mathematical conversations. Engaging in meaningful mathematical discourse offers students an opportunity to reflect on their math knowledge and understanding, make connections with prior knowledge, identify patterns, hone in on their reasoning skills, and develop their higher-order thinking skills. As teachers, it allows us to observe and evaluate their mathematical understanding and development so that we can better support their math growth as we address gaps in student understanding and refine and redirect their approaches to reasoning and problem-solving.
Students are enjoying the opportunities to present their ideas and mathematical strategies to one another. As they seek out, listen to, and value the ideas and perspectives of others, they are able to maximize their own learning while supporting the growth and achievements of others. This is one example of what taking ownership of mathematical knowledge looks and feels like in The Hive.
This week's guest bloggers reflect on these experiences. Enjoy.
When we have conversations about math, I think it helps us improve in many ways. One way is that we share strategies. Let's say somebody didn't understand multiplication the way we were taught, but then the teacher shows the class another student's work. Maybe that student did it another way that makes more sense to you and now you understand multiplication better. Another way is just the conversation itself. If you don't understand something, you need to raise your hand and speak up. If you do, maybe the teacher will answer your question and give you a better understanding of math. - @Shrek_Dog
Our conversations about math help us improve our understanding. One way is when someone gets an answer that is different from yours, you can check your work together. Another way is when you have a multi-step word problem or a very challenging question, your classmate is there to help. - @ShreksBigMac123
Our conversations about math help us improve our understanding of math because when somebody doesn't know how to do something in math and they are too shy to speak up, the conversations we have help us to understand. - @LouiePony
Our math conversations improve our understanding of math. For example, when someone has absolutely NO idea how to do a problem, and someone else has a really good strategy to help solve that problem, it can be helpful. In a group discussion, we can share our strategies and improve our understanding of math. - @Preppy_Shrek3572
One way we can understand math better is by working together. We can help the people that need help and do equations together. We can also ask questions during our group conversations or with classmates to deepen our understanding of math. - @JustinJefferson18
Our math conversations are helpful. One reason they're helpful is that we can share strategies with each other. Another reason is that we can explain each other's mistakes. - @Bassy
Our conversations about math help us improve our understanding of math. If you have a question because you don't understand something, then you can get an answer to your question and you will understand something better and improve. If someone shares a strategy, that strategy might work for you. Conversations make a difference. - @MustardMan1
Our conversations in math helped me improve a lot. Math can be really hard sometimes if you don't get it, but you only need a group or partner to talk it out with and ask questions. For example, one time I was at a table and we were having a discussion and solving problems together. I didn't understand one of the division problems, so I asked a person in my group and they explained how to do it. After talking it out, I finally understood. If you don't know something, don't be afraid to ask. Someone will hear your question and answer it. - @ILoveCheer123
Our conversations about math help improve our understanding of math because talking or sharing always helps. What if someone doesn't understand what the teacher is saying? Sharing ideas would probably help. Trust me, it's happened to me before. - @BabyDiggs
Our math conversations help us improve our understanding of math because it is two or more people putting their heads together to achieve success. For example, you can check answers with your partner to make sure you answered the question correctly. - @Pookie2.0
Our math conversations help us improve our understanding in many different ways. One way is that we can ask questions. For example, some of us have good questions that help deepen our understanding. - @Ritz159
This week, we had some great conversations about math. We shared our strategies and tried to make sense of the numbers that we were working with. It was hard, but fun with trying to get the numbers right. - @FortniteGuy#1
Our conversations about math help us improve our understanding because by talking about the things we don't know or changing the way you're saying it or teaching it, will help make sense of it. - @Dip-n-Dots
Throughout the year, our class has had a lot of conversations about math in the honeycomb. I have learned a lot from my classmates and how we share strategies with each other. It's important because everyone's ideas have helped me improve in math. I now use some of my classmates' strategies. - @NuggetDiddy
Our conversations about math help us improve our understanding of math because when talking about math as a group, it sometimes answers your questions and then you will know what to do. Also, having a partner to work with during math can help you check each other's work and make sure you have it right. - @ILoveGymnastics27