What is a Math Report?

  A math report is the term I use to describe the written representation of a student’s solution to a problem posed in the Problem Solving Workshop.  I think of it as a genre like short story or feature article.  Since it is a genre, it has qualities that make it better or worse.  Students will produce math reports of various qualities over time, but as teachers we are attempting to help students understand what the qualities of a “good” or “effective” math report are and to help them produce them independently.  Like other aspects of literacy, mathematical literacy is a continuum that has no end.  Every day, I strive to become more literate, to be better at comprehending and communicating.  It is important that we work on this ability, because it is the closely related to the poorest strand of the CMT for every district in the state.  That is Strand 25, or as it is affectionately called, Integrated Tasks or Math Applications.

 What Makes a Good Math Report?

1.  Answers the question asked.

2.  Shows evidence.  How do you know the answer is correct?

Student shows in more than one way.

            Ways students have shown thinking:

*     Equations with labels to tell what the numbers mean.

*     Tables, graphs, and charts.

*     Diagrams or representations of the situation.

*     Words – sometimes broken up into steps or a sequence - (Think Alouds).

3.     It is easy to read and understand.

a.     Organized.

b.     COPS – edited.

c.     Uses space on the paper well – (white space).

A great way to practice this skill of effectively communicating is to participate in a free program called the Math Forum Problem of the Week.  They have different levels of problems but they are all scored using the same rubric.  The best thing about this site is that many times you will get feedback on your submission so that you can revise it and make it better.  It is great to get that feedback to help you get better at making your ideas clear to another reader.

You can access this site by clicking here: Math Forum

 How Submissions are scored:

We look for good problem solving and strong mathematical communication when reading submissions to our Problems of the Week. Your solution should include enough information to help another student understand your steps and the decisions that you made in solving the problem.

Submissions are scored in the following categories:

Problem Solving

     ◦        Interpretation: Did you interpret the problem correctly and attempt to solve all of the parts?

     ◦        Strategy: Did you pick a good strategy and apply it well? Did you achieve success through skill instead of luck?

     ◦        Accuracy: Did you get the calculations and details correct, including writing correct statements and equations?

Communication

     ◦        Completeness: Did you explain all the steps taken to solve the problem?

     ◦        Clarity: Did you explain the steps in such a way that another student would understand? Did you make an effort to use correct math language, and good formatting and spelling?

     ◦        Reflection: Did you check the answer? reflect on its reasonableness? summarize the process? connect it to another problem or experience?

 

In each category, submissions are scored using four levels of performance.

 Novice - "Just starting out"

Apprentice - "On the right track, but not quite there"

Practitioner - "Got it"

Expert - "Wow! Above expectations in some way"