Look Fors in the Secondary Math Classroom
Teaching
Cycle
Teacher Look Fors
Launch
Has carefully selected and answered questions for the
math task prior to the lesson
Hook/motivate students
Sets the setting, mathematical context and challenge for
the math task
Provides tools, information, vocabulary, conventions and
notations as necessary
Describes what the expectations are for the finished task
without giving away too much of the problem and leaving
the potential of the task intact
Explore
Organizes and encourages students to explore and
investigate the math task cooperatively
Monitors students as they work
Questions students/groups to encourage students to look
for patterns, make conjectures, collect and record data
Encourages students to participate in group discussions
Encourages students to revise their thinking relative to
the mathematical ideas intended to be elicited by the
task
Methodically selects which students will present and
discuss their solutions and strategies
Discuss
Helps students to make connections among the ideas
presented
Orchestrates discussions to pursue relevant
mathematical ideas and defers other mathematical ideas
for another time
Contributes to the discourse by providing additional
information, suggests other models, alternative
strategies, clarifying difficult issues without taking away
opportunities for students to productively struggle
Notes