ERIC Number: EJ1121000
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Dec
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1033-2170
EISSN: N/A
Primary Teachers Notice the Impact of Language on Children's Mathematical Reasoning
Bragg, Leicha A.; Herbert, Sandra; Loong, Esther Yoon-Kin; Vale, Colleen; Widjaja, Wanty
Mathematics Education Research Journal, v28 n4 p523-544 Dec 2016
Mathematical reasoning is now featured in the mathematics curriculum documents of many nations, but this necessitates changes to teaching practice and hence a need for professional learning. The development of children's mathematical reasoning requires appropriate encouragement and feedback from their teacher who can only do this if they recognise mathematical reasoning in children's actions and words. As part of a larger study, we explored whether observation of educators conducting mathematics lessons can develop teachers' sensitivity in noticing children's reasoning and consideration of how to support reasoning. In the Mathematical Reasoning Professional Learning Research Program, demonstration lessons were conducted in Australian and Canadian primary classrooms. Data sources included post-lesson group discussions. Observation of demonstration lessons and engagement in post-lesson discussions proved to be effective vehicles for developing a professional eye for noticing children's individual and whole-class reasoning. In particular, the teachers noticed that children struggled to employ mathematical language to communicate their reasoning and viewed limitations in language as a major barrier to increasing the use of mathematical reasoning in their classrooms. Given the focus of teachers' noticing of the limitations in some types of mathematical language, it seems that targeted support is required for teachers to facilitate classroom discourse for reasoning.
Descriptors: Mathematical Aptitude, Mathematical Logic, Elementary School Teachers, Mathematics Curriculum, Language Acquisition, Language Aptitude, Consciousness Raising, Familiarity, Lesson Observation Criteria, Classroom Observation Techniques, Classroom Communication, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Educational Practices, Teaching Methods, Teaching Styles, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada; Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A