eSchool News: Why First Graders Need to Explain Their Math Thinking

A correct or incorrect answer rarely tells the whole story of what a young student understands about math.

In a new article for eSchool News, first grade teacher Ms. Ashley Landry shares how making math discourse in first grade a regular part of her lessons helped her hear student thinking that written work alone could not capture.

During play-based MathVoice activities, Ashley’s students solved problems and recorded explanations of their reasoning. Listening to those explanations helped her identify misconceptions, recognize emerging strategies, and better understand what each student knew.

The experience also helped students build confidence. One student who had been hesitant to participate began explaining her reasoning as though she were hosting her own show... and eventually became one of the students asking for more math time.

Ashley also reflects on the role technology should play as AI becomes more common in classrooms. Teachers do not need tools that replace their judgment. They need tools that help them see student thinking more clearly and use their expertise more effectively.