Building Confidence in Math

This first trimester, students have been learning about ratios, rates, and percentages in math. The first module is extremely challenging because it introduces terms that students are unfamiliar with. This requires constant use of our newly acquired tools as well as practicing skills daily.

To help students to become the “expert” of the information they are learning, I love to use a structure called Sage and Scribe. In this structure, one student becomes the sage - the person who gives instructions and walks their partner step by step through the math problem. While the sage is instructing, the scribe is writing down the steps in order to solve the specific problem at hand. The students will then switch roles so the sage will become the scribe and the scribe will then become the sage.

While the students are working together, there are times where a student may not understand the next step that needs to be taken. This is where their partner coaches the student. Having students coach rather than simply tell their partner the solution allows for further learning about the concept at hand.

Providing students with the opportunity of Sage and Scribe, allows them to explain and justify their thinking, learn from others, and build their confidence even in a difficult unit such as this. I am so impressed with the coaching I hear when the students are together and I cannot wait to continue to watch them grow the rest of this year.