5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions - Softcover

Stein, Mary Kay; Smith, Margaret Schwan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0873536770 ISBN 13: 9780873536776

Publisher: Nat Council of Teachers of Maths, 2011

Synopsis

Learn the 5 practices for facilitating effective inquiry-oriented classrooms:

• Anticipating what students will do - what strategies they will use - in solving a problem
• Monitoring their work as they approach the problem in class
• Selecting students whose strategies are worth discussing in class
• Sequencing those students' presentations to maximise their potential to increase students' learning
• Connecting the strategies and ideas in a way that helps students understand the mathematics learned

This book presents and discusses a framework for orchestrating mathematically productive discussions that are rooted in student thinking. The 5 Practices framework identifies a set of instructional practises that will help teachers achieve high-demand learning objectives by using student work as the launching point for discussions in which important mathematical ideas are brought to the surface, contradictions are exposed and understandings are developed or consolidated. By giving teachers a road map of things that they can do in advance and during whole-class discussions, these practises have the potential for helping teachers to more effectively orchestrate discussions that are responsive to both students and the discipline.

Includes a Professional Development Guide.

About this title

Review

"5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions provides teachers with
concrete guidance for engaging students in discussions that make the mathematics in classroom
lessons transparent to all. These instructional practices are extremely timely in light of the focus
on Standards for Mathematical Practice in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics,
and they will support teachers and students in engaging in these standards. This book will serve
as a valuable foundation in our upcoming professional development." (Catherine Martin, Mathematics and Science Director 2011-04-15)

"Ensuring that students have the opportunity to reason mathematically is one of the most difficult
challenges that teachers face. A key component is creating a classroom in which discourse is
encouraged and leads to better understanding. Productive discourse is not an accident, nor can
it be accomplished by a teacher working on the fly, hoping for a serendipitous student exchange
that contains meaningful mathematical ideas. While acknowledging that this type of teaching
is demanding, Smith and Stein present five practices that any teacher can use to implement
coherent mathematical conversations. By using the five practices, teachers will learn to teach
effectively in this way." (Frederick Dillon, Mathematics Teacher 2011-04-15)

"As a veteran teacher, I found that the book diagnosed several problems that I had unknowingly created for my students' classroom discussions. I now have a prescription for curing these problems." (Lori Lovato 2012-05-03)

"This book is a must-have for educators who are working toward having 'acountable talk.' I found it to be a welcome and thought-provoking addition to my professional library." (Maria Lamattina Teaching Children Mathematics Magazine, August 2012 2012-09-17)

Edition details

• Publisher: Nat Council of Teachers of Maths
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0873536770
• ISBN 13: 9780873536776
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 104