NCTM Process Standard: Communication

According to the NCTM article on Communication process standard in a grades 3-5 classroom, "students should be able to use communication as a tool for understanding and generating solution strategies." (NCTM). After reviewing the information about communication in a classroom, I realized that without communication, a classroom would not be able to run efficiently. Communication isn't just oral instructions from the teacher to the students, it also includes communication from students to students. According to NCTM, students learn best when they are involved in a hands on activity where they can discuss their observations and conclusions with their peers. (NCTM). Communication in a classroom is essential, because this is how teachers can evaluate where their students stand, and see if they can move on with new material.

For the Communication standard for grades 3-5, the students should be able to use math language more often and use this type of language correctly. When students write their writing should be well developed and explain thoroughly what they discovered and learned. Teachers need to remember to model the use and the importance of communication in the classroom. To begin a lesson the teacher needs to have a discussion with the class and go through what steps need to be taken when evaluating a new math problem. In the middle school years students feel satisfied when they come to the answer themselves, so knowing this teachers need to remember to guide students through communication to come to the solution.

When discussing how communication and the standards are related, you can connect communication with all of them. The one standard that took out more than any other standard was making sense of the problem and perceive when solving it. The reason why is in order for somebody to make sense of anything, communication is key. Understanding math terms is a challenge, so when students attempt to make sense of the problem, communication is used. Another example is when students use reasoning to solve math problems. When using constructable arguments and critique communicating is being used. In order to develop anything, communication is used. Overall, communication may not always be verbally discussing something, it could be in a written reflection or working on a problem and showing every step.