Play and Exploration

This chapter introduces the virtuous pursuits of play and exploration and how they may connect to mathematics teaching in the elementary classroom. The chapter begins with a practical example involving redirecting activity toward play and then presents the underlying philosophies and research regarding how play and exploration have propelled human flourishing. The chapter then presents how to build a classroom culture around these virtues as well as how to develop the core practice of finding truth in students’ mathematical thinking – referred to as believing. The chapter concludes with an examination of responsive teaching practice, referred to as professional noticing, organized around an example task and interactions and reflective questions to guide teachers’ thinking in these areas.