1 Enhancing the Learning Environment through Student-Led Mathematical Discussions

This passage from Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 2000, p. 18) suggests a mathematics classroom in which the teacher creates opportunities for students to talk about mathematics in a meaningful way. Th e authors of Principles and Standards argue that this type of classroom supports all students in learning meaningful mathemat-ics. However, as many teachers know, achieving this kind of environment is often a challenging endeavor. When working with high school mathemat-ics teachers during professional development, we often hear such com-ments as, “I know that I am supposed to be creating a supportive environ-ment for my students, but I’m just not sure what to do diff erently.” In this article, we describe a facet of Patty’s (coauthor and high school mathematics teacher) classroom practice that fosters students ’ discourse. We fi rst set the stage with a short description of Patty’s school and class-room. We then present an episode from Patty’s classroom during which her high school mathematics students take charge of orchestrating whole-class discussion around a mathematical task