Professional Development: Discourse in the Classroom

Sandra Kraus, Christina Hambleton

TIME

TASK

GOALS:
GOAL 1: The Teachers Role in Discourse
GOAL 2: Discuss the implementation of Mathematical Practice #3 (6 -8) as it pertains
discourse.
GOAL 3: Teachers will understand that mathematical discourse is simple to implement in
classroom and crucial to students success.
GOAL 4: Teachers will learn how to dissect a lesson and create and implement discourse in
classroom.

Preparation and Materials:

Copies
Chart Paper
Markers
Tape
Room with Projector
Power Point
Links
o www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2013/04/05/mathematical-discourse/
o www.fayar.net/east/teacher.web/math/Standards/previous/ProfStds/TeachMat
h2.htm
o www.nasd.k12.pa.us?cms/lib6/PA01001836/Centricity/Domain/87/NASD
%20Mathematical%20Practice%203%20Newsletter.pdf
o www.Teachingchannel.org/videos/student-participation-strategy

Monday,
May 4th
9:00 9:30

Welcome and purpose (Sandy and Christy)

9:30
11:00

GOAL #1: The Teachers Role in Discourse

Show / Discuss article on the teachers role in discourse (20 min)
o www.fayar.net/east/teacher.web/math/Standards/previous/ProfStds/TeachMat
h2.htm
Group Activity: (60 min)
Assign one topic from article to each group
Instruct them to discuss and expand on topic
o Facilitator Prompts
Provide real world examples (class room)
Ask I wonder questions
Instruct to write findings on poster paper
Display posters
o Give Teachers two post-its
Green for compliments
Yellow for questions (clarification)
Have teachers place post its on all the posters
Have teachers discuss post its in their original groups
Class discussion on posters

11:00
12:00

Welcome Activity (30 min)

o We will NOT be doing any ice breakers (huge round of applause)
Show Blog (Covers):
Pair talking strategies and Listening Strategies
o Activities that build mathematical discourse give voice
to students rather than a teacher talking them through
a challenge
o www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2013/04/05/mathematic
al-discourse/

GOAL #2: Mathematical Practice #3

Group Activity (60 min)
(Link)Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
www.nasd.k12.pa.us?cms/lib6/PA01001836/Centricity/Domain/87/NASD
%20Mathematical%20Practice%203%20Newsletter.pdf
o Discuss in groups provided information which expands on Mathematical
Practice #3
o Have groups present their summary on poster paper
o Post paper around room Group Round Robins and discusses
everyones findings.

LUNCH!
12:0012:30

(Put bowls of chocolate/candy on desks)

12:30
1:00

GOAL 3: Teachers will understand that mathematical discourse is simple to implement in

classroom and crucial to students success.
Teacher Reflections (3 minutes)
o How does discourse encourage students to make connections with each
other?
Group Discussion (7 minutes)
Show Video on how to implement discourse in classroom (4 min)
o www.Teachingchannel.org/videos/student-participation-strategy
Discuss Whole Group (7 minutes)
Facilitator - For those who have struggled with implementing discourse in
your classroom; something as simple as a basic numerical triangle can
transform a mind-numbing memorization based learning period into one
rich with unlimited discourse and invaluable cognitive development.
SHOW LESSON EXAMPLE: ( Power Point)

Discuss Whole Group (9 minutes)

1:00 2:00

GOAL 4: Teachers will learn how to dissect a lesson and create and implement discourse
in classroom.
Provide teachers with sample lesson from Shadows curriculum
o Fun Activity:
Project on Board (2 min) have them read
As you walk around, I stay with you
Im sometimes ahead of you and sometimes behind you.
If you were smaller, I would be too.
If you come toward me, I often get bigger (especially at
night).
If you shine a light on me, I disappear.
What am I?
Discuss What is the answer (10 minutes)
o Encourage group to expand on how they arrived at
their answer. What context clues?
Project the questions from Shadows lesson board:
What exactly is a shadow?
What are some different situations in which shadows are
formed?
Why might some shadows change size as you move while
others do not?
o Assign one question per table/group (several
repeats)

2:00 3:30

Teachers discuss their question and write

answers on note paper (10 minutes)
Group discussion on how they answered
and how they think students would answer
the questions (10 minutes)
Facilitator creates chart on board (20 min)
Teacher vs. predicted student
answers
Talk about similarities & differences
Model how to encourage discourse (10 min)
Take previously introduced
questions and expand:
o Change day to night
o Change lamp to sun
o Change sun to fog

GOAL 4 (CONTINUES)

Provide groups (repeat if necessary) with one of the following lessons from the
Shadows curriculum:
o The Shape of It
o Triangles Galore
o The Lamp Shadow
o The Sun Shadow
Instruct teachers to read the lesson and create essential questions that encourage
discourse amongst the students. (20 min)
Ask teachers to prepare quick presentation on their questions (30 min)
o Poster paper
o Power point
Each group will summarize their lesson and present their discourse questions to class
(40 min)

3:30 3:45

Closing
Final reflection
o What can we do to further assist you implement discourse in your
classroom?
o Survey