This post continues the series on building a math community. As the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." Hand signals are powerful tools in the math classroom. Students can all share their thinking at the same time without hearing a sound. Amazing! Learners are engaged and actively listening. Lastly, these motions serve as real time formative assessment for the teacher. Such power!
Here are some favorites that I use.
- Thumb up right in front of your chest - This says, "I've had time to think and I have an idea."
- When students agree with the speaker, they hold up their thumb and pinky, folding down their three middle fingers, waving them to say, "I agree with you." A student mathematican has a boost of confidence as peers make this motion, agreeing with the speaker's strategy or comment.
- After an idea has been shared, many times I ask students if they agree, disagree, or are still thinking, simply using their thumbs. This same signal also works well when I ask student to self-assess their comfort level with a new strategy: thumb up if they feel comfy; thumb down if they feel confused; and thumb sideways if they are starting to feel comfy. It's a quick and effective way to take a pulse of the class.AgreeDisagreeStill thinking about it
Interested in how other teachers use hand signals. Check out these Teaching Channel video clips:
- https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/student-silent-signals
- https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/classroom-silent-communication-signals
As the school year starts, it's a perfect time to model hand signals and weave them into your math discussions. They can actually be used throughout the day, too. What are some ways you use hand signals to strengthen the math discussions in your classroom? Share your ideas. We all learn from each other.
No comments:
Post a Comment