Alyson E. Lischka

Inspection-worthy mistakes: Which? And why?

Carefully select and leverage student errors for whole-class discussions to benefit the learning of all.

Examining Mistakes to Shift Student Thinking.

teachers and students can have different perspectives on the value of discussing students’ mathematical mistakes, despite various classroom evidence that such discussions can help foster strong conceptual understanding (Boaler 2016). Some teachers consider student mistakes to be an opportunity to correct errors in individual student thinking. Others view the public inspection of mistakes as an opportunity for all students in the classroom to learn. Examining Mistakes to Shift Student Thinking

Developing Algebraic Reasoning through Variation in the U.S.

Historically, algebra in the U.S. has been viewed “as a gatekeeper to a college education and the careers such education affords” (Kilpatrick & Izsak, 2008, p. 11). As such, current curriculum documents emphasize the need to support all students in learning algebra (Common Core State Standards Initiative [CCSSI], 2010; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 1989, 2000).