What is the role of math class?
Author: Josh Deis
Published: 04.26.16
Everyone who teaches math should step back and answer this question for themselves. I want students to connect with mathematics and see it as a powerful tool for understanding their world. In order for students to do this they need to have a healthy relationship with mathematics.
Inside the classroom walls I believe there are important components that need to be in place to build a strong math identity in students. Here is my quick list that is by no means exhaustive:
- rich tasks
- mistakes play an important role
- students are making sense of their own thinking and the thinking of others
Listen to Emliy Akinshin from Oak Grove Elementary talk about her thinking on this:
Here is the Austin's Butterfly Video that Emily mentions.
Austin's Butterfly: Building Excellence in Student Work from EL Education on Vimeo.
Blog: Mathematical Identity
