Math Talk

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Math Talk
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Project Challenge1998-2002

• Purpose to increase the number of ethnic and
  minority students in G/T programs
• Math Talk was one of the interventions

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Math Talk

• Uncovered misconceptions
• Helped students to improve ability to think
  logically support claims with evidence
• Gave students more to observe and listen to and
  to participate in mathematical thinking
• Increased motivation

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Traditional talk format

• Direct Instruction (lecturing) good for
  knowledge outside student such as terminology or
  symbols. (scalene or )
• Quizzing (initiation, response, evaluation)
• What is three times eight?
• Sharing time
• Group recitation
• Student presentations

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Tools of Classroom Talk

• Talk Moves (strategies)
• Revoicing by the teacher and asking student to
  verify.
• Asking students to restate some elses reasoning.
• Do you agree or disagree and why?
• Would someone like to add on?
• Asking students to explain their reasoning.
• Using wait time.

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Productive Talk Formats (ways to organize
students)

• We will focus on these
• Whole-class discussion
• Small group discussion
• Partner talk

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Whole-class discussion

• Purpose to provide students with practice in
  mathematical reasoning without focus on right
  answers (source of knowledge is inside the
  student)
• Teacher is not engaged in giving information
• Students should share thinking, steps in
  reasoning, and build on each others thinking,
  process information, connect to what they already
  know
• Builds confidence for students in making sense of
  complex mathematical ideas

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Small-Group Discussion

• Teacher gives a question for discussion,
  circulates, observes and interjects
• No assurance that talk will be productive

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Partner Talk

• Teacher asks a question and gives the students a
  minute or two to talk about it with a neighbor
• Benefits
• students who are quiet but keeping up can
  practice a response
• Students who have a question can ask the partner
  and get ready to ask the class.
• ESL students get practice and develop confidence

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Ground Rules for Respectful Talk

• Treat everyone with respect
• There should be consequences for violation of the
  rules

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Ground Rules for Equitable Participation

• All students must have the opportunity to
  participate. This requires every student
• Is listening to what others say
• Can hear what others say
• May participate by speaking out at some point

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Three Part Cycle to Incorporate Productive Talk

• 1. Planning and projecting creating a roadmap.
  What format(s) and talk move(s) will you use?
• 2. Improving and responding in the midst of the
  lesson. You will need to improvise and respond as
  needed during the lesson.
• 3. Summarizing and solidifying So where are we
  now? During class summarize what has been said
  and significant points. After class reflect on
  what emerged in class make notes on lesson plan.
  During the next class review, clarify, solidify
  important ideas from the previous class.

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Look at this video

• 2.1d Gr. 1 flowers showing talk moves (447)
• 1.1b Gr. 1 How did she add 3 numbers. (319)
• 4.2 Gr. 6 change 7/8 to percent (557)
• 5.1b Gr. 2 Juice problem solving (935)

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Video about 6

• Watch this video of a third grade class.
• Copy and paste into your browser --
• http//deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/65013
  
• (10 minutes)