If you follow our classroom on Twitter you may have noticed that I interact sometimes with a lot of people who post about teaching Math. Math was not my first love. I’ve always been more of a Literacy guy. But seeing all of the amazing work that my virtual colleagues of the (ahem) Math Twitter Blogosphere has given me inspiration and a lot of ideas. One of the key techniques I’ve garnered is called “Notice and Wonder.” It is nothing too sophisticated; in fact it is quite simple. You present an interesting mathematical picture or graphic and ask students what they notice and wonder. What happens can be a slow burn but is always kind of magical. Slowly students start to perk up. They will ask questions and share startling mathematical realizations and connections that I would never think to show them.
This process feeds a student’s independent stance toward learning. It gives them ownership of the learning and challenges them to find their own way into understanding a situation. At this point in our time together this is my main goal for students.
In the coming weeks, I will be sending home interesting images that pertain to mathematical ideas and simply ask students to notice and wonder. I hope you will join them in adding your observations and questions.
HOMEWORK THIS WEEK: Due Friday 2/19
- READING: Daily reading and one Reading Journal Response.
- MATH: Practice pages!
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