Classroom Discourse

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Classroom Discourse
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What is classroom discourse?

• Ways of representing, thinking, talking, agreeing
  and disagreeing.
• The way ideas are exchanged and what ideas
  entail.
• Who determines when to end a discussion.
• Classroom discourse must be founded on
  mathematical evidence.

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Teachers Role

• Initiate and orchestrate the initial
  conversation.
• Teacher perception of classroom.
• Respect for student diversity.

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Student to Student

• Students talking with each other.
• Writing is an important component of the
  discourse.
• Class presentations.

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Student to Teacher

• It is not necessary that mathematical
  conversations be led by the teacher.
• Students should initiate problems and questions
  to the teacher.
• Variety of ways in which students can lead
  discussions or activities.

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In Conclusion.

• Discourse is critical to learning mathematics.
• Makes math concepts accessible to all students.
• Math talk builds confidence in children.
• It aids in the assessment of student
  understanding.