Two Steps For Developing Communication in the Classroom

This week I have been thinking more and more about how to get the message of the importance of communication between student to student and students to teacher is critical if we want to create great problem solvers who have great reasoning skills.   I just read an article in a NCTM journal by a fourth grade teacher and I love her quote: "Communication is not a passing fad!  It belongs in the very heart of every math classroom."  So how do we make it the heart of every classroom? 


1^st Step - Ask students to explain their thinking.  This one idea can take many forms:
-       How did you get it?
-       Explain your thinking.
-       Why does it work?
-       How do you know?
-       Show me.

2^nd Step - Create the climate that students are expected to listen to other students and to question each other.   Students at first do not innately know how to do this, we must teach them.  Post the above questions on "Questions To Ask".  When students pair-share encourage them to ask for clarification.

A.   Give a story problem that can be solved in many different ways.
B.    Give each individual child alone think time. (Set a timer for 2-5 minutes depending on the difficulty of the problem).  Encourage students to either draw a picture, use a math tool or manipulative, or to use numbers and words.
C.    Have student's pair-share and asking questions from the "Questions To Ask" chart remembering the purpose is to understand one another.
D.   Give pairs a set time (Set a timer for 4-5 minutes).  During this time roam the classroom looking for interesting strategies to share out as a whole group.
E.    Give a selected handful the opportunity to share and requiring the rest of the class to ask for clarifying questions.  Note: Students will not be great at asking questions to begin with.  As the teacher, you will need to model great questions.  Think about what the confused student in the classroom is confused about and then - ASK THAT QUESTION!