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To Show Work or Not To Show Work....That is the Question.

October 05, 2021

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In Math class, the students are required to show their work most of the time.  The teachers try to emphasize how important it is to get the process right; not just to get the right answer.  I hear many students complaining about having to show their work and when asked to explain how they got their answer they state something like, “Well I just knew it”, or “Because the calculator told me.”  I have tried many different approaches trying to explain to them that just getting the right answer isn’t what Math homework is all about.  I tried giving the students real-life examples to help them understand.  

#1:  Can I hand in a piece of paper with $5,000 written on it to my boss for my annual budget and expect it to be paid without him knowing what I’m going to spend that money on?  No, I have to show him what I am going to spend that money on.  I have to show my “work”.

#2:  I was nominated for “Gardner of the Month”.  I worked really hard on pulling all of the weeds out of my plants and trimming the bushes to make them more attractive.  I didn’t win the prize for the best garden but I did receive a gift card for the most improved garden.  Even though I didn’t win the big prize I was still recognized for the work I had completed.  

I think, in the end, if a teacher models his/her expectations and gives the students a real-world connection they will do what is asked of them.