I was going through my pile of old magazines and journals trying to let go of issues I know I just don’t have time to read when a photo of Ken Jennings caught my eye on the cover of the Costco Connection. For a wholesale warehouse magazine, I’ve always been impressed with the variety of topics included in their articles.

Now, as a quick reminder, Ken Jennings is the longest reigning champion on the t.v. game show Jeopardy.  Just appearing on the show, in my opinion, is a pretty remarkable feat.  These people are smart.  They know a lot of stuff about a lot of things.  But there’s a difference between being smart and being a good thinker.

Don’t get me wrong; I want to make it very clear that I am impressed with the knowledge of each contestant on the show.  It takes a lot of hard studying to get to where they are.  And I’ve no doubt that they are probably pretty good thinkers and problem-solvers, as well.  But that said, I see this all the time in the classroom – kids who are impressed simply because someone can recall facts quickly or remember the date of Custer’s Last Stand.

What I want my students to focus on is the difference between being smart and being a good thinker.  Both are important but the second is essential.  If I want to know the properties of geometric shapes…then I can look that up.  But if I want to apply those properties in the design of packaging that uses minimal materials – well that requires thinking.

This is where I believe the Common Core Standards in Mathematics will have their greatest impact.  Not so much with the list of grade-level curriculum standards but, instead, with the Standards for Mathematical Practice.  It is through these Practices where our students will learn learn the difference between being smart and being a good thinker.  They’ll come to understand that recalling facts quickly or being the first to finish an assignment is not the sign of true learning and understanding. True learning and understanding requires deliberation, perseverance and effective communication.

While I was going through that pile of old magazines and journals, I also came across the September issue of the California Mathematics Council ComMuniCator.  That’s a journal I don’t recycle until I’ve read it cover-to-cover.  As I flipped through it, I noticed an article by Nita Walker on using the Mathematical Practices in a jigsaw activity for teachers.  It was a good article, but what caught my attention was the activity sheet she created for students to better understand the Practices.  To do this, she re-wrote each one of the Practices in a way kids (and I!) could understand.  Here’s what she came up with:

MP1:  I can solve problems without giving up.

MP2:  I can think about numbers in many ways.

MP3:  I can explain my thinking and try to understand others.

MP4:  I can show my work in many ways.

MP5:  I can use math tools and explain why I used them.

MP6:  I can work carefully and check my work.

MP7:  I can use what I know to solve new problems.

MP8:  I can solve problems by looking for rules and patterns.

Getting our students to focus on the Practices by using these simple I can sentences will change the focus from simple recall to deeper mathematical thinking.  And if you haven’t already noticed, there is a heavy emphasis in the CCSSM on having conversations with our students about ideas and concepts in math.  When we pose good questions and allow students to explain their thinking, we help our students develop those good thinking skills so necessary for them to be successful in math.

We need to teach parents how to have these important math conversations with their kids, as well.  It can be as simple as giving parents a few leading questions such asHow can you prove that answer?  or Can you think of another way to do it?

In our Family Math Night kits, we provide Participant Booklets which include examples of higher-order thinking questions that parents can ask their kids while doing the activities.  One of my favorite things to do during a Family Math Night event is to walk around and listen to all the great math conversations happening.  I call it math chatterand it’s a thing of beauty!

Of course, we’d love to help you host a Family Math Night event and get those math conversations started.  Feel free to call or email us about our Nifty Numbers, Math Medley, Gellin’ with Geometry or Play and Take Family Math Night events*.