The Productive Struggle and Clarity of Student Work in Mathematics

This workshop explores two critical elements of effective mathematics instruction: supporting students through productive struggle and improving the clarity of their work. Participants will learn how to design challenging tasks that push students to think deeply while still being achievable with persistence and prior knowledge. The session also emphasizes strategies to help students communicate their reasoning clearly through organized, logical, and detailed responses. By connecting growth mindset principles with classroom practices, teachers will strengthen both student resilience and the quality of mathematical discourse.  

• Students often avoid or give up on challenging tasks rather than engaging productively with them
  
  
• A lack of strategies for supporting students without providing immediate answers
  
  
• Student work is frequently unclear, disorganized, or missing explanations, making it difficult to assess understanding and provide feedback

‍

1. Designing for Productive Struggle – Teachers will gain strategies to choose appropriate tasks, provide scaffolds, and model persistence so students develop problem-solving skills and resilience.
   
   
2. Supporting Growth Mindset and Engagement – Participants will learn how to foster student confidence and perseverance by framing mistakes and challenges as opportunities for growth.
   
   
3. Improving Clarity of Student Work – Educators will explore methods to help students explain their reasoning, organize their ideas logically, and communicate solutions clearly through writing, diagrams, or structured explanations.