What is mathematics discourse?

• Refers to the exchange of ideas (both written and oral)

Writing Supports Understanding

• Students explain how a strategy works
• Students explain in writing how to do something
• Students explain errors they or their teachers have identified
• Students write their own definitions of terms
• Students develop an argument to support a point of view
• Students construct (and model answers for) their own problems
• Students write before a math session, looking forward to their learning.

Benefits of Writing About Math

• Organize thoughts
• Recognize confusions
• Form generalizations or draw conclusions
• Process and retain ideas
• Revisit ideas and thinking
• Permanent record - progress over time
• Make conjectures

Give Feedback to the Writer: 
(requires a response and promotes student thinking)

• Does this always work?
• Can you show me another strategy?
• Tell me more about your results.
• Give me an example of what you mean?
• What if you did____, then what might happen?
• What would this look like? Model/draw it for me.