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Maverick Mathematics
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in Action
September/October
Scripted Curricular Tasks
Scripted curricular tasks have three parts:
- Posing a question about prior knowledge
- Asking a follow-up questions that extend on prior knowledge
- Asking students to do something without telling them how
This three part approach allows students to incrementally gain success by connecting back to previous learning and by problem-solving together to discover a new concept. When scripted curricular tasks are well-planned, the learning is seamless and the students are given the opportunity to take ownership of the new ideas.
Thinking Tasks in Algebra II
A Discovery in AP Calculus AB
The majority of the lesson was completed in small groups at the whiteboards around the classroom. Having students at the whiteboards opens up the classroom to collaboration. Students can observe other groups and migrate to other groups to ask questions and to check work. It also creates an environment where students focus on actively working and thinking about mathematics. At the end of the lesson, the students returned to their seats in the classroom to work with the teacher to consolidate their thinking and apply it to one final question that they could include in their notes. The lesson showed them how learning the limit definition of the derivative gave them a tool for discovering the derivative rules that they will apply throughout the year.
August/September
Off to a Great Start!
Building Thinking Classrooms
Kimberly Burton-Regulski, Mathematics Department Chair
Email: kburton@bcps.org
Website: www.theteachingtea.com
Location: Eastern Technical High School, Mace Avenue, Essex, MD, USA
Phone: (443)809-0190
Twitter: @ETHS_Math