Math Instructional Strategies: Notice and Wonder
- Juliana Tapper
- Nov 8, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 7
I’m going to tell you a quick story from my fifth year in the classroom...
I had a 12th grader in my remedial integrated math 1 class (yup.. he was repeating this class for the 4th time). He ditched my class often, but when he came, he got to work and was really trying hard to pass. We’ll call him Fernando for this post. It was time for our systems of equations unit to begin (side note: I’ve got a great blog post about systems of equations activities here). I love the systems of equations unit because it has so many real world applications, plus I have a great method for helping students master systems of equations word problems (hint: it’s what this blog post is all about). I launched the unit with the Notice and Wonder protocol. I missed the memo however and thought it was called Know and Wonder, so that’s what I called it. Students were given a systems of equations prompt and asked, “what do you know and what do you wonder?” And then asked to come up with some answers using trial and error (since they didn’t know how to create and solve systems of equations yet). Fernando was SO into it! He was participating in the class discussion of what he knows and what he wonders and then he just went to town on the trial and error. It was amazing to see him so on fire for math!
What contributed to his desire to persevere in his mathematical thinking?
The math instructional strategy, Notice and Wonder.
Let me tell you all about it.
What is Notice and Wonder?
Notice and Wonder is a game-changer for ensuring students understand the context and information within a word problem or task before they’re given a question to solve.
Why Notice and Wonder is a fantastic math instructional strategy for students who struggle with math
Notice and Wonder is a fantastic math intervention strategy. If you teach intervention math students or any student who struggles with math, Notice and Wonder helps calm students' math anxiety because there are so many correct answers, after all, no one can have a wrong “wondering!” Once students hear you validate their answers, they will be more likely to participate in the mathematics too.
How to facilitate Notice and Wonder
Step 1: Find an image, word problem, task, or graph to show to students. Remove any mathematical question. Did you catch that last sentence? Remove the math question. For example, if your textbook says, "You are buying chips and soda for a party. You spend $54 of 15 items. Chips cost $4 per bag and soda is $6 per bottle. Write a system of equations to model this situation and use it to find the number of chips and soda you can buy." You will want to cut and paste the prompt (everything before the question) onto a blank slide. Then you're ready for Step 2.
Step 2: Ask students, “What do you notice? What do you wonder?” You can ask them to come up with 2 or 3 things they notice and wonder.
Step 3: Scribe student answers on the board. Class clowns will love participating with funny things they wonder. Celebrate that! They are finally participating!
Step 4: Reveal the mathematical problem and give time for students to solve in their groups.
See Notice and Wonder in action
Telling you about this amazing strategy is one thing, but showing you is so much more powerful!
I’ve put together 6 of my favorite Engagement Structures that take 5-10 minutes of class time into one easy to use quick guide + Warm Up Bundle.
In the PDF you'll gain access to all six structures plus get over 100 done-for-you warm up slides to make doing them with your students immediately, so much easier!