to negotiate
meaning with their students, and (iv) to add new ideas, or move
discussion in another direction.
Developing skills of mathematical argumentation
To guide students in the ways of mathematical argumentation,
effective teachers encourage them to take and defend positions against
alternative views; their students become accustomed to listening to
the ideas of others and using debate to resolve conflict and arrive at
common understandings.
In the following episode, a class has been discussing the claim that
fractions can be converted into decimals. Bruno and Gina have been
Effective teachers are able to facilitate
classroom dialogue that is focused on
mathematical argumentation.
19