Dear {{custom.firstName}},

We believe students are brilliant. Throughout this school year, we want to share with you how you can bring out that brilliance in many ways. One way is by letting students lead.

In Working Backwards, students use inverse operations and balance moves to solve equations similar to the equation below. But, let’s take a closer look at the question in the lesson synthesis.

We could ask students, “What is the value of x?” We could also ask students, “How would you start to solve this problem?” Instead, we ask students to think of different first steps they could take to solve this equation.

Consider pausing the lesson synthesis here and have your students discuss their ideas with their partners. Let your students lead those conversations with their own strategies and notions in mind. Continue to ask them, “What is another first step you could take?” or “How about another?”

You could use variations of this question throughout the school year. The more you ask questions like this, the more you will help students realize that there are many ways to be a brilliant mathematician. Sharing and exploring their thinking is the first step.

Team Desmos

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