Talking about our learning

Some students are learning about place value using pictures of blocks and placing them on a special mat which helps them think about how many tens and ones are in a particular number. 

Today some students tried to solve a problem like 42 + ? = 50. They each suggested what they thought the answer was, then one of the children explained their thinking while the other children listened. After the explanation, those who had listened could state if they agreed or disagreed with the explanation. Having the opportunity to listen to the thinking of others is a powerful way to engage students in learning.