What makes for effective mathematical communication in the classroom?

How does effective communication help students in their mastery of mathematics? How can you help students develop precise ways to express their mathematical ideas so they are able to discuss them with teachers and peers? This session will look at the essential role of communications in the mathematics curriculum for grades 9-12.

This session shows how to help students:

• Converse about mathematics,
• Read and write about mathematics,
• Improve mathematical discourse,
• Analyze written and oral communication,
• Assess knowledge,
• Discover misconceptions

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