Mathematical Communications

"The communication standard (Standard 2) calls for the integration of language arts as children write and discuss their experiences in mathematics."

"Students should be encouraged to explain their reasoning in their own words."

"In mathematics, just as with a building, all students can develop an understanding and appreciation of its underlying structure independent of a knowledge of the corresponding technical vocabulary and symbolism."

Critics agree communication skills may be even more important than math skills, but they're not math. Some parents worry about when their children writing, cutting, pasting and drawing more than computing. Many standards based exercises such as drawing pie charts and finding patterns in data appear to be Powerpoint rather than mathematics skills.