Math: Communication for Critical Thinking

The strategies we use to teach math are coming under a lot of consideration these days.

I do believe that curriculum frameworks are changing for the better within a changing society. We are moving from a purely behaviouralistic view of curriculum as drill, repetition, basic skills instruction and review. Curriculum under this view is highly prescriptive by nature, and requires step-by-step structured learning methods. However, I think that it is problematic to spend our time here for many reasons – one particular reason is because the answer to anything can be googled. 

It is important to focus on the language of math and our subjective realities that come into play when we are working with mathematical language.

Communication is therefore the cornerstone of math. Math makes use of symbols that we have given meaning to. Therefore, adding dimensions and new realities with communication is essential to creating a…