Introducing Math Icons

To introduce the math icons to your students, consider beginning with two icons that correspond nicely with common classroom expectations: strategies and proofs.

Strategies

The strategies icon invokes an image of getting from Point A to Point B. When using this icon, students should be thinking in terms of how they solve a problem. This may include:

• Finding a common denominator when adding fractions
• Isolating a variable in algebra
• Counting decimal places when multiplying two decimal numbers

By placing the strategies icon, students are recording the strategies they use to go from Point A (the question) to Point B (the solution). When you require the strategies icon, you are requiring students to record this information. When introducing this icon, consider discussing the importance of maps to everyday life. Sure, some of us can remember how to get from place to place, but a written record gives us a way of communicating our directions and backtracking in case we get lost.

Proofs

The proofs icon challenges students to prove the solution they arrived at using their strategy. The information under a proof icon might include:

• The steps involved in plugging in a value for a variable and solving using algebra.
• The geometric theorems used to arrive at a solution.

While similar to the idea of “checking work,” the proofs icon encourages students to see proving math as another element of being a mathematician. “Checking work” is a chore, but displaying a proof is providing evidence of correctness.

Only The Beginning…

While these two icons provide a useful starting point, there are seven more math icons to help your students understand math at a deeper level. We’ll explore these in upcoming articles.