Microcourse 4: Refining Instruction for Mathematical Sense Making
Teachers strengthen their instructional practice by reflecting on how students engaged with mathematical ideas during earlier lessons. In this module, participants analyze patterns in student reasoning, classroom discussions, and task engagement to identify instructional practices that support meaningful mathematical sense making.
Participants use these insights to refine instructional moves such as task design, questioning strategies, and discussion structures. The goal is not simply to revise a single lesson, but to identify teaching practices that can be sustained across future instruction.
By the end of the module, participants articulate instructional strategies that support student reasoning, discussion, and exploration of mathematical ideas.
Topics Covered
- strengthening mathematical tasks to support reasoning
- refining questioning strategies
- supporting productive mathematical discussion
- identifying instructional practices to sustain across lessons
Guiding Questions
- What patterns in student reasoning did you notice during the lesson?
- Which instructional moves supported deeper mathematical thinking?
- What changes could strengthen opportunities for reasoning and discussion?
- Which teaching practices should be sustained in future lessons?
Key Terms
Mathematical Sense Making
Students reasoning about mathematical ideas, explaining their thinking, and making connections between strategies.
Instructional Refinement
The process of reflecting on classroom experiences and strengthening teaching practices to better support student learning.
Productive Mathematical Discussion
Classroom conversations where students explain, justify, and compare mathematical ideas.