Verbs of mathematics
Its not what you do but how you do it that counts
Mathematics is quintessentially about action, about doing things. Anne Watson & John Mason were inspired by a list of actions compiled by Zygfryd Dyrslag and used it to make a list of verbs of mathematics.
Main Section
Verbs of mathematics include
- Exemplifying
- Varying
- Specialising
- Reversing
- Completing
- Altering
- Deleting
- Generalising
- Correcting
- Conjecturing
- Comparing
- Explaining
- Sorting
- Justifying
- Organising
- Verifying
- Changing
- Refuting
Probes & Prompts
Do your learners regularly experience the actions described by these various verbs?
Taking Action
Choose a verb describing actions which your learners might be less used to experiencing and find ways to prompt learners to work in that way.
When working with colleagues on lesson design, try using verbs of mathematics as an organising principle.
Case Studies
Research Sources
Jeffcoat, M. Jones, M. Mansergh, J. Mason, J. Sewell, H. & Watson, A. (2004). Primary Questions and Prompts, Association of Teachers of Mathematics, Derby.
Watson, A. & Mason, J. (1998). Questions and Prompts for Mathematical Thinking, Association of Teachers of Mathematics, Derby
See Also
Categories
Constructs