Clip 10/41: Standard 3: Construct Arguments & Critiques Using Proportions & Ratios Part 3C
Overview
They justify their conclusions, communicate them to others, and respond to the arguments of others...Elementary students can construct arguments using concrete referents such as objects, drawings, diagrams, and actions. Such arguments can make sense and be correct, even though they are not generalized or made formal until later...Students at all grades can listen or read the arguments of others, decide whether they make sense, and ... improve the arguments.
Hillary Lewis-Wolfsen invites students to examine a problem about proportions and ratios with a strategy used by a student to organize the information in the problem. In these sequential clips, mathematics coach Linda Fisher probes a pair to elaborate their thinking. Lewis-Wolfsen and Fisher had hoped that students would be able to see the logic in this answer and be able point out where the answer could have been found. In responding to one another’s arguments, Lewis-Wolfsen’s appreciates the “supportive language this class uses, i.e. ‘logical,’ ‘heading in the right direction.’ The discussion between the kids is respectful of one another too.”
See this video in the context of an entire lesson.
(Parts C & D)