Mathematical discussions in the classroom are crucial for sharing ideas and developing understanding, but not all are created equal. In Intentional Talk: How to Structure and Lead Productive Mathematical Discussions, authors Elham Kazemi and Allison Hintz provide teachers a framework for planning and facilitating math talks that deepen and enrich student learning.
Based on four principles, Intentional Talk will help structure conversations to stay productive and on task:
- Discussions should achieve a mathematical goal
- Students need to know what to share and how to share it to meet the goal
- Teachers need to orient students to ideas and each other so every class member is involved
- Teachers must communicate all children are sense makers and their ideas are valued
Through detailed vignettes, the authors examine student’s roles as both listeners and talkers and offer strategies for improving student participation and learning. The book also includes a collection of planning templates for teachers to apply the right structure to discussions in their own classrooms.
In these conversations students engage with each other, share ideas, and develop critical thinking skills. Intentional Talk provides the perfect bridge between student engagement and conceptual understanding in mathematical discussions.
