Math Language Routine 7: Yes, No, IDK

Speaker: Yes, No, IDK leverages examples and non-examples to encourage student collaboration in comparing and contrasting their thinking with their peers. Here’s how you do it:

Choose a mathematical concept or concepts to focus the activity on. It might be a particular function type, vocabulary terms, shapes, or other such concepts.

Have individual students create a set of examples and non-examples of the concept you choose. Encourage them to include varied representations, such as written scenarios, graphs, or other visuals in their sets. Tell them not to label their creations and to mix them up.

Have students exchange their sets of examples and non-examples with another student. Then, ask that student to sort them into examples and non-examples, and encourage them to use a third pile as an IDK or “I don’t know” pile for those they’re unsure of.

In sorting their peers’ examples and non-examples, the students can develop deeper understandings and practice comparing and contrasting features of a particular concept.

Now go ahead and give “Yes, No, IDK” a try!