Math Congress

Jared, Amanda, Madeline and Shelane

Overview
What is a Math Congress?

Preparing for a Math Congress

Facilitating a Math Congress

Mini-Congress

Benefits of a Math Congress

Example
What is a math congress?
Math Congress is a mathematical process created by Fosnot &
Dolk. Instead of fixing mistakes, math congress highlights a
few students strategies.

This strategy allows students to learn and make connections

between concepts which is led by a group of students who
discuss and explore a selection of students strategies.

A Math Congress creates an environment that allows students

to reflect on their own strategies, communicate their thinking
and reflect on other students strategies.

This is an instructional strategy that teachers use during the

Consolidation portion of the Three-Part-Lesson.
Preparing for a math congress
Math Congress needs preparation both by the teacher and the students.

Teachers Contribution
The teacher will prepare questions about the math strategies to be used, beforehand,
which will be useful during the math congress. The teacher will use imagination to guess
how the math conversation will ensue. Some leading questions could be:

What are the mathematical ideas and strategies in the posters that should be
discussed?

How do these ideas and strategies relate to the learning goal, as well as build on
previous mathematical discussions?
Preparing for a math congress CONT.
Which ideas and strategies can be generalized?

What is a possible sequence for the discussion of the posters, so that it

serves as a scaffold for learning? (Capacity Building Series p.4)

Students Contribution
The students will pair up in twos, and make mini posters, to present to the class
during the discussion.

These posters will be clear, and to the point, talking about the strategies and
ideas they used while working on the problem.
Facilitating the math congress
This time consists of a whole class discussion where 2-3 pairs of students
explain and support their mathematical thinking on their solution. The
teacher highlights important math strategies and ideas to consolidate
thinking and focus on the learning goal.

Some guiding questions to facilitate this time

- How are the strategies shared similar and/or different to one another?

- Will this strategy always work? How do you know?

- When will this strategy not work? Why not?

 mini-congress
Congress - A group or delegation that meets for discussion

A mini-congress is the small group that meets to discuss before the math-congress
meets.
In a mini-congress one student takes the lead and presides over the discussion and
makes sure every member is represented during the presentation:

The small group of probably 4 or 5 students (who worked together) share their
work with one another
Discuss the strategies they used
Seek clarification
Share ideas
Ask questions
Defend their thinking

After the mini-congress the math congress meets to consolidate the lesson.
Benefits of using math congress
Focus on reasoning

- The benefits of a math congress are that it allows the teacher to focus on student reasoning
about the Big Idea.

- It develops and builds on the personal and collective sense-making of students

- There is a focus on a few carefully selected effective strategies in order to develop every
students mathematical learning.

- Math Congress creates a sense of community in the classroom where students voices are
heard and respected
Sample question
Math Congress Lessons
Conclusion
The Math Congress is a method used to help students strengthen their Mathematical
Communication. Common characteristics across all grades include:

Precision

Assumptions and generalizations

Clarity

A cohesive argument

Elaborations

Mathematical terminology, symbolic notation and standard forms

Thank you!
Preparation and practice is needed from both teacher and students to execute a Math
Resources
Math Congress in action! - click the link which will take you to an example of a classroom performing a math
congress.

Lesson Plan - Charts for the Grocer - Turkey - This is a sample lesson involving problem solving, teaching
multiplication and ratios using math congress to consolidate.

Capacity Building Series - Communication in the Classroom - p. 4-5