Discussions: A Structure that Supports Equity in the Elementary Math Classroom
Whole-class discussions are an essential feature of the elementary math classroom [and so] it is important to think about and plan for how to make participation in such discussions equitable and how to establish an environment where students share their thinking and listen thoughtfully to the ideas of others.
Which Students Get Which Questions? Using a Teacher Reflection Tool to Find Out
What a teacher does during a discussion can powerfully impact whether and how a student participates. One teacher used the Teacher Reflection Tool for Whole Class Discussions to reflect on which students she was calling on to answer which types of questions. She used what she learned to make some changes to her practice and try to bring about more equitable participation in the discussions in her classroom.