Two Questions to Change the Way Your Students See Maths

Let's face it- learning maths is hard. This is the case whether you're an early learner or a research mathematician.

So often, it's:

• tough to work out what a problem's really asking,
• not clear if you're on the right track,
• common to get frustrated, and
• common to want to give up.

YET, dealing with challenge and being persistent are valuable skills. With these, students build independence and a motivation to keep learning.

So, what to do?

I want to share two powerful questions. These have completely changed how I approach new problems – and how I work with students of all ages.

Students (K-12) can use these questions to:

• untangle messy thoughts in their head
• slow down their thinking
• keep track of ideas (whether big, small or seemingly irrelevant).

And, you can use the two questions with your students, no matter what maths they’re tackling.

Here they are-

Two questions that will change how your students see maths

1. What do you notice?
2. What do you wonder?

“These are powerful prompts to engage students. ‘Notice and Wonder’ helps lower the barrier to entry for all students.

It encourages sense making.

Students are more invested because they are connecting their own thinking to the scenario and are generating questions that they are interested in solving.”

– Amie Albrecht, mathematician & Maths Teacher Circles guest presenter

‘Notice & Wonder' in action

Let’s look closer at these two questions, using a favourite problem of mine:

1. What do you notice?

With this first question, learners will identify what they know and can see. Often, students will realise that they understand more than they first thought.

The ‘Notice' prompt asks for observations alone, not answers or justifications.

This is its power.

Students can respond, knowing it will be without judgement.

Your Turn! Looking at the colour tower above, what do you notice about the arrangement of the colours? Write a list of what you observe.

2. What do you wonder?

This second question opens up new possibilities. It helps learners connect what they have noticed with where they might go next.

Importantly, it also gets students invested in what they're exploring. Students will see that, in maths class, questions aren’t only asked by the teacher or textbook.

Mathematical questions can be asked by anyone.

Your Turn! Going back to the colour tower, what do you wonder? Write down any questions you have.

Teaching Ideas

Here are four ideas for using the ‘Notice Wonder' prompts in your classroom:

1. With a new skill, concept or topic. Use the questions to see where students are currently at. Diagnostic assessment.
2. After teaching a skill or concept. Share a worked solution and use ‘notice and wonder'. Formative assessment.
3. When sharing complex information, e.g. word problem, table, graph or visual. Use the two questions to help with sense-making,
4. During problem solving. Encourage students to use the questions as a tool for getting unstuck.