WINTERÂ 2021Â LESSON STUDY
Cultivating students' confidence in math discussions
RESEARCH QUESTION
How can we cultivate students’ confidence in math discussions and group work so they are willing to share their thinking and support one another?
THEORY OF ACTION
If we as teachers provide students with UDL structures such as sentence stems, group work roles, and multiple modes of access to communication (chat, sharing screen, using pictures, and verbal), then students will feel empowered and willing to lead discussions in math, resulting in deeper discussions and more positive math identities.
EXAMPLES OF STUDENT WORK
REFLECTING ON THIS LESSON STUDY
Dismantling the power structure of the teacher being the sole holder of knowledge and letting students lead discussions in math classes helps recognize the brilliance within children, helps them build on the prior knowledge they have, connects the students to their classroom community, and demands critical thinking for students to access skills they are developing.
