In this session, we examine the Communication Standard. Effective communication about mathematics is a vital skill in many settings, but here we focus on the classroom and how communication is used to enhance students' learning.

This session shows you how to help students do the following:

• Clearly and precisely express their mathematical ideas
• Communicate with others about mathematics in order to deepen their own understanding
• Listen to and build on the mathematical thinking of others
• Organize mathematical information to help with their own thinking and to communicate with others

Instructional programs . . . should enable all students to --

• Organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking through communication
• Communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers, teachers, and others
• Analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others
• Use the language of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely

Principles and Standards of School Mathematics (NCTM, 2000). For more information on this Process Standard, see the NCTM Web site

  Observe a math problem