Building Problem-Solvers Through Productive Struggle
Productive struggle in mathematics affords students opportunities to improve problem solving skills, apply transfer skills, deepen their mathematics understandings, and clearly articulate their mathematics ideas to others. As mathematics educators, we must hold our students to high expectations while presenting a learning environment that supports productive struggle. How can we support students without lowering the cognitive demands of mathematics tasks? How do we develop and implement curriculum that builds lifelong mathematics learners and problem-solvers through engaging in productive struggle? When is the struggle no longer productive? The NCTM Annual Meeting will provide me with the opportunity to discuss Mathematics Teaching Practice #7 with mathematics educators from across the country and return to my school with new resources and strategies to better support my students and share with my colleagues.