Math Classroom Observation Checklist
Math Classroom Observation Checklist
School: ____________________ Grade: Class/time: _______________
Worthwhile Mathematical Tasks Comments
Students are engaged.
Students use a variety of mathematical tools.
Conjectures, generalizations, and what if
questions abound.
Misconceptions, limited understandings,
and/or flawed reasoning surface.
Students communicate about the math tasks
at hand.
Students’ Role in Discourse Comments
Students present solutions.
Students question one another.
Students pay attention while another student
is speaking.
Students use a variety of tools to reason,
make connections, solve problems and
communicate their thinking.
Students make conjectures.
Tools for Discourse Comments
Students are using “tools” to enhance
discourse.
Four kinds of tools are: written symbols,
oral language, physical materials, previously
acquired skills.
Students are using the tools to: record,
communicate, and think.
Students are presenting and modeling their
work.
Students reflect on their learning.
Students select tools that are appropriate.
Culture in the Classroom Comments
Students look at problems and ideas in
different ways.
Students celebrate their AHA’s.
Wrong answers are viewed as worthwhile.
Students are equitable in their spoken and
unspoken messages about all students’
mathematical potential.
Handheld version
Students respect each other student’s
thinking.
This checklist is adapted from the NCTM Teaching Standards and based on work by NO LIMIT Math Integration Specialists August 2002.
For more information on the NCTM Teaching Standards: http://standards.nctm.org/previous/ProfStds?teachMath.htm
For an electronic version, more information and resources see the Administrator’s Corner: http://edtech.esd112.org/no_limit/administrators.html