This Week's Math Stuff... 3.19.15 Click the links below to see what the following math professionals write about the Standards for Mathematical Practice... (1) Sue O'Connell, (2) Pam Harris, (3) Steve Leinwand, and (4) Dan Meyer. SMP #1: Make Sense of Problems and Persevere in Solving Them - Heinemann By Sue O'Connell (@SueOConnellMath), author of Putting the Practices Into Action. It seems ironic that the first Standard for Mathematical Practice focuses on problem solving. When I was a student, math problem solving seemed to be an afterthought. Problems were at the bottom of the textbook page or at the end of a lesson. SMP #2: Reason Abstractly and Quantitatively - Heinemann by Pam Harris (@pwharris), author of Lessons and Activities for Building Powerful Numeracy The second Standard for Mathematical Practice states: "Mathematically proficient students make sense of quantities and their relationships in problem situations. They bring two complementary abilities to bear on problems involving quantitative relationships: the ability to decontextualize-to abstract a given situation and represent ... SMP #3: Construct Viable Arguments and Critique the Reasoning of Others - Heinemann Arguably the Nine Most Important Words in the Math Common Core By Steve Leinwand (@steve_leinwand), American Institutes for Research, author of Accessible Mathematics. I am increasingly convinced that "construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others" (Standard for Mathematical Practice 3) may be the nine most important words in the entire Common Core. SMP #4: Model with Mathematics - Heinemann By Dan Meyer (@ddmeyer) I stood next to the checkout lines in the grocery store for a half hour. I had a clipboard in one hand and a timer in the other, looking like the most conspicuous secret shopper ever. I was there trying to answer one question: Which line is best?