I tried to get them talking to each other about math today. Just some light conversation about what kinds of gotchas they thought might trip them up. I had talked about some of the gotchas… dropped negative signs, missed terms, that sort of thing.
“Talk to your shoulder partner,” I said. “Share what gotchas you think you might have to watch out for when you are doing the math.”
Sometimes that kind of thing works. When it does, it’s amazing to hear the mathematical banter rising in the room. And then sometimes it doesn’t work so well — the kids look back in silence.
I started the day with the former. Sadly, my day went out on the latter. Oh well. It’s all good.