How Do You Know?

Routine: Students are presented with a question that may or may not have an obvious answer. Students work individually, or in small groups, to think about the question, then discuss their explanations. This routine will strengthen students’ ability to defend their thinking with mathematical reasoning. This routine will place the emphasis on process and remind students that the thinking behind the answer is as important - or more so - than the answer itself.

How Do You Know? is one of the seven High-Yield Routines discussed in the book by Ann McCoy, Joann Barnett & Emily Combs and published by NCTM. High-Yield Routines promote critical thinking, make connections and/or create discussion with the goal of getting all your students talking about math from the minute they walk into the classroom. The goal of the high-yield routines is to provide all of your students with an entry point to the discussion, problem & solution.

The Convince Me That routine that is described on the Student-Centered Mathematics Classroom website has additional examples that are similar to the How Do You Know routine.