Have you ever heard of the saying "One is the loneliest number?" This statement couldn't be more true especially when learning math. As educators and researchers are discovering, students most often learn best when working with other students. Communication is key when learning math concepts. This doesn't just include communication from the teacher to the student or from the student to the teacher, it also includes student to student communication.
According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, NCTM, communication is a tool that is critical for learning math. Communication helps build meaning for students. Conversations about math help to deepen the understanding of math concepts, equations and strategies for solving problems. The communication standard below helps emphasize the importance of communication in relation to math.
Instructional programs from prekindergarten through grade 12 should enable all students to—
- organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking through communication;
- communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers, teachers, and others;
- analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others;
- use the language of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely.
As educators how can we better facilitate communication in mathematics? One way is by making sure that students are active participants in the learning process. Don't just ask the student for the answer, ask how they came up with the answer. It's not just about knowing the answer, it's also about the steps involved.
Communication of the answer from the student helps them to express the steps or process they took to solve the problem. If there is an error, the teacher is better able to trouble shoot where the problem is occurring and get the student back on track. Communication should be both written and spoken for the best learning results to take place.
To encourage active participation, math games are a great way to make learning fun and communication effortless, engaging, and educational. Games help facilitate learning by increasing thinking, reasoning, and logic of math skills. This often puts peers in the role of the teacher. This role helps to deepen the understanding of the math concept for both the student-teacher and their peers.
There are many great math games and resources available to teachers, to help enrich the learning experience for their students. A great web site for math skills that I have found breaks down the standards and skills for each grade. Fun and motivational games are part of the learning process for each grade. Additionally, you can look at the standards for each state to compare the similarities and differences.
I am a huge advocate for communication in mathematics. I have been in and seen too many classrooms where learning opportunities are missed when the teacher only implements individual work through worksheets or books. Learning should be fun and exciting. Events that evoke emotion, whether good or bad, make a lasting impact. By making math exciting and interactive you are increasing and strengthening the knowledge acquired by the student. Communication is the key to greater success for our students in math.
For more information on how to communicate in math please read the article below.
No comments:
Post a Comment