MTP 5: Pose purposeful questions.

Elements of Practice 5

What does the research say?

Math Teaching Practice #5: Pose purposeful questions

Effective teaching of mathematics uses purposeful questions to assess and advance students' reasoning and sense making about important mathematical ideas and relationships.

Investigate

Why does the practice work?

"Effective teaching of mathematics uses purposeful questions to assess and advance students' reasoning and sense making about important mathematical ideas and relationships." (Principles to Actions, p. 35)

The four purposes (types) of teacher questions include:

To gather information - Student recalls facts, definitions, or procedures
To probe thinking - Student will need to explain, elaborate, or clarify their thinking
To make the mathematics visible - Student will discuss structure and make connections among ideas and relationships
To encouraging reflection and justification - Student shows a deep understanding of reasoning and action, including arguing for validity

Explore

How might this practice work in our classrooms?

Try This:

PLAN your questions when you create your lesson. Establish your learning goals for the lesson and anticipate student responses. This will guide your own questions.
POST purposeful questions in your class so you and your students can see and anticipate them! They are not a secret!
Monitor YOUR participation. 80% of class talk comes from the teacher. Work towards balancing that scale then eventually putting more weight on the students!
Elicit and extend STUDENT thinking. Ask probing, clarifying, and reflective questions! Make sure you don't just funnel them to a desired conclusion.

Can the questions you're asking students be answered with a simple yes or no? Try replacing or rephrasing those questions using this guide: 100 Questions to Promote Discourse.

Reflect

How might we see ourselves and our practice in the research?

Using the table below, reflect and assess the actions you believe are evident in your practice. Then, think about how students experience learning in your classroom. Are there student actions evident in your practice?

MTP 5 Notes-Catcher

Resources

How might we continue to learn about this practice?

Using Questioning to Stimulate Mathematical Thinking (NRICH)

PBS Math Questioning Stems

Dan Meyer's Three Act Task

Connections to the High Leverage Practices

HLP 1-Collaborate with Professionals to Increase Student Success

HLP 15-Provide Scaffolded Supports

HLP 18-Use Strategies to Promote Active Student Engagement

HLP 22-Provide Positive and Constructive Feedback to Guide Students’ Learning and Behavior

Overview of the HLP Practices

Continue to Mathematics Teaching Practice 6

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MTP 5: Pose purposeful questions.

Elements of Practice 5

Math Teaching Practice #5: Pose purposeful questions

Investigate

"Effective teaching of mathematics uses purposeful questions to assess and advance students' reasoning and sense making about important mathematical ideas and relationships." (Principles to Actions, p. 35)

The four purposes (types) of teacher questions include:

To gather information - Student recalls facts, definitions, or procedures

To probe thinking - Student will need to explain, elaborate, or clarify their thinking

To make the mathematics visible - Student will discuss structure and make connections among ideas and relationships

To encouraging reflection and justification - Student shows a deep understanding of reasoning and action, including arguing for validity

Explore

Try This:

PLAN your questions when you create your lesson. Establish your learning goals for the lesson and anticipate student responses. This will guide your own questions.

POST purposeful questions in your class so you and your students can see and anticipate them! They are not a secret!

Monitor YOUR participation. 80% of class talk comes from the teacher. Work towards balancing that scale then eventually putting more weight on the students!