Communication-responsive mathematics classrooms

Teaching and learning mathematics involves talking and thinking about mathematical concepts, which can often be quite abstract. This online programme is a collection of resources designed to help you think about these mathematical concepts and the cognitive and linguistic demands associated with them. They also consider aspects of communicating about mathematics and communicating in mathematical ways, both of which can be challenging for many teachers and students.

Getting started

An introduction to the principles behind this project, resources that you can use with colleagues, and how you might use these materials to develop communication-responsive mathematics teaching in your own classrooms.

These resources focus on three curriculum areas: Equations and expressions; Angles and parallel lines; and Probability. For each curriculum area there are resources that include communication-responsive task guidance and summaries of research on these curriculum areas.

Task guidance

Guidance around well-known and widely used classroom tasks that draw attention to both the linguistic and cognitive dimensions, thinking about how what words we use and what explanations we give might affect what sense our students are making of the mathematics.

Research summaries

Brief summaries of recent research around some of the key mathematical concepts involved in these tasks.

Talk moves

Brief summaries of talk moves identified in research as supporting student communication and understanding of mathematics

Programme Information

About the team and relevant research behind these resources and research resulting from the work around their development and use.

We would welcome your feedback or reflections on these materials. If you would like to give us some feedback, please complete this survey.