Nikolova, Mirela

Teachers’ Use of Communication Strategies to Support Teaching and Learning of Mathematics

Keywords: communication, mathematics, support

Abstract

Communication is an essential part of mathematics education. Through communication students are able to share their ideas and clarify their understanding. Communication is a way for students to reflect upon, refine, discuss and amend their ideas and understanding. The communication process helps students build meaning in their ideas. When students are challenged to communicate the results of their thinking to others, they are able to share their knowledge with the classroom and school community. Listening to others’ explanations also gives students an opportunity to develop their own understanding of mathematics and make connections to other topics. This research project investigates and highlights teacher strategies that support teaching and learning of mathematics though communication. Data was collected through interviews with two teachers at the intermediate grade level, both of whom are very experienced in mathematics education. Results suggest that it is imperative for teachers and students to communicate the problem solving process. Opportunities for mathematical discourse and a comprehensive knowledge of mathematical vocabulary are necessary for comprehensive communication. In order to engage students in mathematics communication, teachers must also encourage students to show multiple representations of the same result in addition to connecting math to real world situations.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in my research. Thank you to my supervisor Dr. Doug McDougall for all his support and guidance, my participants who volunteered their time and shared their knowledge and experiences, as well as my family, friends and classmates for all their support and encouragement.