Article Review: Techniques for small-group DISCOURSE

I chose the article, Techniques for small-group DISCOURSE, taken from the Teaching Children Mathematics Journal. This article featured the importance of reasoning and critical thinking in mathematics through group discourse or discussion. Too many of students develop a negative disposition because of the way instructors teach mathematics. In order for mathematical instruction to be effective, the teacher must apply various methods which include: critical thinking, reasoning, open communication, question asking, making conjectures, constructing and assessing mathematical arguments.

According to this article, there are many things a teacher can do to keep the students actively engaged in learning math. The teacher's effectiveness in group discourse can either make or break a student's disposition towards math. One of the techniques teachers can use is asking questions. Teachers need to master the art of question asking. They need to ask thought-provoking, guided questions that will yield critical thinking, and the sharing of learners' own ideas as well as listening to others.

The authors of this article took the reader through some examples of students engaging in small group discourse. The small group discussions were then evaluated to come up with techniques that work and to assess things that the teacher did that didn't work so well.

It was found that when teachers require the students to give explanations for their work, students become more fluent in mathematical ideas and are more open to other ways of justifying the answer. Students should be redirected from just giving a final answer and encouraged to think through the process. It would be advantageous for the learner to consider multiple ways of arriving at a solution instead of having one particular way of doing things in mind and shutting out other creative approaches.

I think that this approach to instruction within mathematics is a very useful tool. I believe that students would learn better by internalizing through critical thinking and justification.

Kilic, H., Cross, D., Ersoz, F., Mewborn, D., Swanagan, D. and Kim, J. (2010). Techniques for small-group Discourse. Teaching Children Mathematics 16 (6), 350-357