TEACHERS BEING “SEEDS” PART TWO

TEACHERS BEING “SEEDS” PART TWO

On February 20, 2020, I attended another Twitter chat with the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  The title of the chat was “Diving into Discourse.”  As with the other chats, this chat was a half hour and consisted of five questions.

The first question dealt with defining Math Discourse.  There were a great number of responses to the question.  The answers ranged from simplistic to very detailed.  However, each one boiled down to discourse being the language of Math and being able to determine whether or not your students are learning the materials you are teaching.  I believe that true discourse is the teacher and the students being able to talk about numbers, their mathematical concepts and how each applies to real life situations.

The second question’s topic was on the key factors needed for honest and open discourse.  The responses for this question were very similar.  In order for discourse to be effective, the teachers need to be sure they provide a safe zone for their students to discuss mathematical principals without judgment or fear of ridicule.  Only when students feel free to make mistakes will students feel free to share their strategies and approaches to problem solving.  Students also need to know we care about them.

Question 3 dealt with the necessity of teachers completing the tasks, prior to the “lesson”.  It is important for teachers to be prepared for the lessons they are teaching.  In some ways, it is most important with a Math lesson.  For some reason, Math is feared by students.  For a teacher to complete the task prior to giving it to students, allows the teachers to consider the possible strategies their students might choose to complete the task.  I also think it is important for students to know that we can actually solve the problems we ask our students to solve.  It is comparable to a lawyer not asking a witness a question that you do not know the answers to.  Lawyers don’t like surprise answers during trials.  It is the same with teachers.  If we don’t plan ahead and prepare, we are like a lawyer that didn’t prepare for court.

The last question asked which online resources we preferred to obtain the tasks we use.  In the class that I am taking this semester, our teacher begins each class with a “math routine.”  I have discovered some great online resources with these routines.  Splat, Esti-mystery, “What doesn’t belong”–it is a book with four pictures on each page and the students determine  what doesn’t belong.  I have really enjoyed these routines and can’t wait for others.

I really enjoyed reading the responses from everyone who participated in the chat.  I also enjoyed the topic.  However, I had more difficulty with this chat than the last.  I don’t remember having to place the # in my responses on the first chat, but lost my responses that did not contain the # on the second one.  While I enjoy participating in the chats, I personally find Facebook chats more user friendly.  However, I will continue to participate in these chats.  I have learned much from all who participate.  I can’t wait to learn more.  I am really looking forward to the chat with COSI in April.