Standards for Mathematical Practice
The standards for Mathematical Practice form the backbone for building understanding in Mathematics. You could call them the heart and soul, or the key, or the roots. Whatever metaphor you choose, they are a great place to focus as we "bite into the core."
Math Solutions has an excellent video introduction to the Standards for Mathematical Practice as well as an explanation of each Standard. (once you play the introductory video, click on the playlist to see the additional videos).
A focus on each of the Standards for Mathematical Practice can be found here:
SMP #1 - Make sense of problems & persevere in solving them
SMP #2 -- Reason abstractly & quantitatively
SMP #3 -- Construct viable arguments & critique the reasoning of others.
SMP #4 -- Model with mathematics
SMP #5 -- Use appropriate tools strategically
SMP #6 -- Attend to precision
SMP #7 -- Look for & make use of structure
SMP #8 -- Look for & express regularity in repeated reasoning
There are many resources available for the SMPs:
Connecticut has developed an outstanding reproducible Engaging in Math Practices Look Fors for both teacher and students being engaged in each practice. Melissa Hancock has created a classroom look fors document for teachers. Measured Progress has another look fors document here. Duplin Schools has created Mathematical Practices and Indicators document. Mathleadership.com has created a Standards of Student Practice Mathematics Proficiency Matrix. Fresno County schools posted this list of Questions for Observation.
This video talks about the importance of the Standards for Math Practice.
Math Solutions has an excellent video introduction to the Standards for Mathematical Practice as well as an explanation of each Standard. (once you play the introductory video, click on the playlist to see the additional videos).
A focus on each of the Standards for Mathematical Practice can be found here:
SMP #1 - Make sense of problems & persevere in solving them
SMP #2 -- Reason abstractly & quantitatively
SMP #3 -- Construct viable arguments & critique the reasoning of others.
SMP #4 -- Model with mathematics
SMP #5 -- Use appropriate tools strategically
SMP #6 -- Attend to precision
SMP #7 -- Look for & make use of structure
SMP #8 -- Look for & express regularity in repeated reasoning
There are many resources available for the SMPs:
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has mapped each of the SMPs with videos from the Teaching Channel.
- Video illustrations and sample lessons can be found at Illustrative Mathematics, Inside Mathematics, and MathPractices (secondary examples).
- Some excellent starter questions for you and your students have been designed in the form of cubes. Each cube has questions for one of the Standards for Mathematical Practice. You can purchase the cubes for K-2 or for 3rd-8th.
- Jordan School District has developed excellent posters detailing the standards in kid language. They are available on their site and I have included links below. There's are even K-3 versions in Spanish and Chinese!
They inspired a version for older students designed by Chris Shore on the Math Projects Journal site. Bigideaslearning.com has another set for older students. Common Core en Espanol has them available in Spanish. - PowerPoint on the SMPs is available from Arizona.
- EDC Thinkmath has a site explaining each of the SMPs.
Connecticut has developed an outstanding reproducible Engaging in Math Practices Look Fors for both teacher and students being engaged in each practice. Melissa Hancock has created a classroom look fors document for teachers. Measured Progress has another look fors document here. Duplin Schools has created Mathematical Practices and Indicators document. Mathleadership.com has created a Standards of Student Practice Mathematics Proficiency Matrix. Fresno County schools posted this list of Questions for Observation.
This video talks about the importance of the Standards for Math Practice.
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These videos from the Teaching Channel show students using a variety of the SMPs.
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