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List of additional essays on teaching mathematics through inquiry (C.1)

Given the length and nature of these texts, we recommend that you print them out in hard copy rather than try to read them off the screen.

  • "Rationale for an inquiry approach to mathematics instruction" (Borasi, 1996) (9 pages). An excerpt from the book "Reconceiving mathematics instruction: A focus on errors" (Borasi, 1996) has been adapted here to develop a critique of the transmission paradigm informing traditional schooling and to articulate an alternative set of assumptions about knowledge, learning and teaching, consistent with an inquiry approach.
  • "Teaching practices that can support an inquiry approach to mathematics instruction" (Borasi & Fonzi, 1998) (19 pages + appendices). This essay is a compilation of teaching practices that we derived from the analysis of several inquiry-based instructional experiences and offer as a resource to support teacher educators and teachers who are trying to use an inquiry approach in their own practice. The essay is complemented by four appendices providing the commented index for segments of our professional development videos that illustrate the most complex of these practices. You can use the links below to access either the main text of this essay or one of the commented video indexes:
    • Appendix A -- highlighting teaching practice for "Modeling"
    • Appendix B -- highlighting teaching practice for "Orchestrating and facilitating students' inquiry when working in small groups"
    • Appendix C -- highlighting teaching practice for "Orchestrating and facilitating 'sharing' sessions where students communicate the results of their inquiries"
    • Appendix D -- highlighting teaching practice for "Orchestrating and facilitating students' inquiry when working as a whole class"

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