Encouraging students to justify earlier as they attempt to solve an open-ended task can lead to greater understanding and engagement.
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Using Scaffolding to Scale-up Justifications
Carolyn James, Ana Casas, and Douglas Grant
Mathematical Explorations: A New Twist on Collaborative Learning
classroom-ready activities
Stephanie M. Butman
Research on students' learning has made it clear that learning happens through an interaction with others and through communication. In the classroom, the more students talk and discuss their ideas, the more they learn. However, within a one-hour period, it is hard to give everyone an equal opportunity to talk and share their ideas. Organizing students in groups distributes classroom talk more widely and equitably (Cohen and Lotan 1997).
Mathematical Explorations: Find the Distance: No Formula Necessary
classroom-ready activities
Ryota Matsuura and Yu Yan Xu
This activity involves finding the distance between two points in a coordinate plane and emphasizes reasoning from repeated calculations, which is one of the mathematical practices specified by the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
If Only Clairaut Had Dynamic Geometry Tools
Hyewon Chang and Barbara J. Reys
Using Clairaut's historic-dynamic approach and dynamic geometry tools in middle school can develop students' conceptual understanding before they encounter formal proof in geometry.
Music Cards
Anne Roche and Doug M. Clarke
Students display a wide variety of creative mathematical thinking and misconceptions when they complete a classroom task that focuses on proportional reasoning.
Quick Reads: Sure, We Can Make Smaller Pieces
a good idea in a small package
Michael J. Gilbert
The topic of limit is explored by examining a circle's successively smaller sectors.
Bird Boxes Build Content Area Knowledge
Sherri Ann Cianca
Communicating reasoning and constructing models fold nicely into a geometry activity involving the building of nesting boxes.
Capturing Thinking on the Talk Frame
Tutita M. Casa
This instructional tool helps students engage in discussions that foster student reasoning, then settle on correct mathematics.
Using Tiered Explorations to Promote Reasoning
Cory A. Bennett
Address the needs of diverse learners with a class structure that is designed around a crime scene theme and based on student choice and perceptions of the math being studied.
Pattern-block frenzy
Katie L. Anderson
Teachers share success stories and ideas that stimulate thinking about the effective use of technology in K–grade 6 classrooms. This article describes a set of lessons where sixth graders use virtual pattern blocks to develop proportional reasoning. Students' work with the virtual manipulatives reveals a variety of creative solutions and promotes active engagement. The author suggests that technology is most effective when coupled with worthwhile mathematical tasks and rich classroom discussions.
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