Facilitating Math Talk

I am coming to learn just how important providing the opportunity for students to engage in quality math talk can be in allowing kids the chance to talk about their mathematical ideas, thinking, strategies and grow together. By setting up a positive classroom environment and using teaching techniques that incorporate math talk moves such as revoicing, repeating, wait time and pressing for reasoning, students learn to use each other’s ideas to further their mathematical learning. I believe that incorporating math talk moves in your teaching helps students’ in their understanding that being smart in math isn’t just about getting the answer fast and correct the first time, and in assisting them in understanding that good mathematicians are flexible in their thinking and are able to openly discuss and challenge each other’s ideas in mathematics. Engaging in math talk pushes students’ thinking and helps them to see that smart people are efficient, flexible and accurate in their mathematical thinking and that there is always room to for growth.