Notice and Wonder

What is Notice and Wonder?

When students become active doers of mathematics, the greatest gains of their mathematical thinking can be realized. The process of sense making begins when we create classrooms full of curious students' thoughts and ideas.

By asking "What do you notice? What do you wonder?" we help our students see problems in big-picture ways.

Self-confidence, reflective skills, and engagement soar, and students discover that the goal is not to be "over and done," but to discover multiple strategies for tackling a problem.

Check out Episode 2 and Episode 3 on the NCTM YouTube Channel!

Notice and Wonder Digital Assets

NCTM is pleased to expand this concept through the introduction of two mathematics-loving characters:
Notice, the snail, and Wonder, the owl.

Explore the world with these two friends discovering that math is all around them. Notice and Wonder provide fun and engaging mathematics prompts to spark the sense of curiosity that leads students to understand that math is everywhere!

NCTM members Click Here for the full library of digital assets!

Notice and Wonder Resources

Are you looking for ways to spark interest and build anticipation in your math lessons? Discover how you can use Notice and Wonder routines in your classroom using the resources below!

Putting Notice and Wonder into Practice

Noticing and Wondering: Empowerment in Learning by Trena Wilkerson
Capturing Mathematical Curiosity with Notice and Wonder by Aaron M. Rumack and DeAnn Huinker
Noticing and Wondering to Guide Professional Conversations by Tracy E. Dobie and Eleanor R. Anderson
Notice and Wonder by Angela T. Barlow
Noticing and Wondering: A Language Structure to Support Mentoring Conversations by Sarah A. Roller
A Routine to Spark Mathematical Connections by Janaki Nagarajan

Notice and Wonder Webinars

It All Starts with Noticing and Wondering by Annie Fetter
Mathematically Productive Instructional Routines and Planning for Equity by Aaron M. Rumack
Creating Richer Math Conversations by Marian Small

Notice and Wonder Classroom Resources

Notice and Wonder Backgrounds

These free Notice and Wonder digital assets are available for use in your online classroom. Use these pieces to enliven your Zoom meetings and classroom learning management system.

NCTM Members Click Here for more free Notice and Wonder Teaching Aids. And don’t forget to visit the NCTM bookstore for more Notice and Wonder products!

	Animated Zoom Background Delight your students with an animated background of Notice and Wonder exploring a classroom! Designed to be entertaining but not distracting, let Notice and Wonder help keep your students’ attention on you. Download
	Multi-platform Calendar Backgrounds Transform your classroom with these vibrant calendar backgrounds! Ideal for highlighting important dates and deadlines as you welcome students back for the school year. Download now to keep your students organized and engaged throughout the year! Download
	Notice and Wonder Autumn Zoom Background Celebrate the beauty of fall in your classroom! Download this free autumn background and inspire mathematical curiosity with the vibrant colors of the season. What patterns do you notice in the leaves? What do you wonder about the changing seasons? Perfect for setting the scene in your math lessons this back-to-school season. Download