Mathematical communication between teachers and students : A study in three grade 1 classrooms with mathematical teaching

The aim of this study is to investigate if and how teachers’ and students’ communication in a classroom can lead to learning mathematics. It also aims to identify how students can reason about mathematics in various classroom situations. The study was conducted by using participant observation and interviews with three teachers and their classes in year 1 at a school in northern Sweden. The results show that oral communication of mathematics has equal room as written mathematics. Students work in the book, but the teacher and student also communicate to solve math problems in the book. Communication between students and teachers and between students takes place in the teaching. Communication is used as a tool for learning and development in mathematics. Students and teachers communicate mathematics in the classroom to learn and to understand each other. Learning processes take place in every lesson and pupils practice their communication skills in Year 1. Pupils understanding of mathematics are positive. Students in grade 1 think that math is fun and exciting. They understand teacher’s instructions, explanations and lessons. And the teachers believe that communication is an important tool in mathematics teaching