Monongalia Rigorous Mathematics
(MoR Math)
Monongalia Rigorous Mathematics (MoR Math) focuses on building student understanding of mathematical concepts through rigorous classroom instruction. Teacher participants engage in monthly professional development, classroom formative assessment, and data analysis to increase student engagement and understanding.
The Goal of MoR Math: Increase the level of student engagement and discourse (rigor!)
Characteristics of Rich Math Tasks
Rich math tasks are open to encourage multiple methods, representations, and pathways.
Rich math tasks are inquiry based.
Rich math tasks allow students to experience the mathematics conceptually before procedures.
Rich math tasks have a visual component.
Rich math tasks are "low floor" and "high ceiling".
Rich math tasks require students to convince, reason, or justify.
Five Principles of Effective Questioning
Plan questions ahead of time that encourage thinking and reasoning.
Ask questions in ways that include all students.
Give students time to think.
Avoid judging students' responses.
Follow up students' responses in ways that encourage deeper thinking.
Five Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions
Anticipating likely student responses to challenging mathematical tasks
Monitoring students' actual responses to the tasks (while students work in pairs or small groups)
Selecting particular students to present their mathematical work during whole-class discussion
Sequencing the student responses that will be displayed in a specific order
Connecting different students' repsonses and connecting the responses to key mathematical ideas