Good teaching
Reasoning provides the opportunity for students to engage in mathematics in a thought-provoking and intellectual way.
Good teaching of reasoning involves embedding it in all mathematics classes. Like the other proficiencies (understanding, problem-solving and fluency), reasoning is at the heart of all mathematics learning and teaching.
Some key elements of good teaching of reasoning include:
- challenging all students to reason
- using effective questioning to prompt reasoning
- encouraging deep thinking
- making reasoning a routine element of every class
- making mathematical connections.
Reasoning for all students
Reasoning can provide a suitable intellectual challenge for all students.
Making mathematical connections
Research shows that the most effective mathematics teachers for developing students' reasoning are connectionists.