First graders at Carson STEAM Magnet use mathematical representations to explain their mathematical reasoning. Students justify why their math ideas make sense through physical models. Mrs. Brill has challenged the class to find multiple pathways of solving this problem. As students explain their solution, she makes a public record of different methods that come forward, which creates opportunities for students to notice connections between methods. After the lesson, Lovely, who is explaining her thinking in the photo, said “The best part of math is saying what I think. Then, other people help me figure out my ideas.”
Rachel Levy writes in the American Scientist, "To solve modeling problems, mathematicians make assumptions, choose a mathematical approach, get a solution, assess the solution for usefulness and accuracy, and then rework and adjust the model as needed until it provides an accurate and predictive enough understanding of the situation. Communicating the model and its implications in a clear, compelling way can be as critical to a model’s success as the solution itself."
