{"id":1879,"date":"2023-10-25T01:00:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T01:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/mathequityforum\/?p=1879"},"modified":"2025-11-26T14:59:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T14:59:59","slug":"a-cycle-of-reflection-learning-more-about-our-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/mathequityforum\/a-cycle-of-reflection-learning-more-about-our-students\/","title":{"rendered":"A Cycle of Reflection: Learning More About Our Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


by Marta Garcia<\/a> and Annie Sussman<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 25, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019m hoping to develop a math community where everyone has a voice and I can elevate the voices of students who may not have participated in discussions in the past.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\u2014 Berta, Grade 2
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Developing an equitable math learning community that centers each student\u2019s identity, needs, and voice requires that teachers take the time to learn about their students and then act on the knowledge they have gained. In our first blog<\/a>, \u201cWhat Do Your Students Think About Math?: Student Reflection as a Tool for Finding Out\u201d<\/em> we offered an invitation to engage students in sharing their experiences and reactions to math class:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we take time to listen and respond to the feedback students offer, we demonstrate our commitment to fostering a supportive learning community as well as our respect for our students\u2019 contributions. If used regularly, such reflections can help us see how students\u2019 thoughts about mathematics, and about themselves as learners, are changing over time (or not). This choice to pay attention to and respond to students\u2019 needs and current dispositions is a critical step in developing an equitable learning environment.<\/em>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interested in learning more about how teachers can develop equitable math learning environments, our team sought input from teachers. We invited a group of elementary math teachers from diverse backgrounds and communities, to work with us on the development and field testing of a variety of Equity Resources. One such resource is a Student Reflection Tool<\/a> which provides a bank of questions, and sample questionnaires and surveys, that teachers can use to learn more about their students’ previous and current math experiences. The Tool is organized into four areas of reflection.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n