acknowledgment of what mathematicians and mathematics educators
have recognized for years—that it is not possible to be knowledgeable
about mathematics if all a person knows is mathematical content. The
essential partner to mathematical content is a set of mathematical ways
of thinking and reasoning that can equip a person to navigate through
hard or unknown mathematical territory.
The Common Core’s descriptions of the Standards for Mathematical
Practice address many, if not most, of the dimensions of mathematical
thinking and habits of mind articulated in previously published discussions.
Thus, considering these practices can give us a good, broad
overview of the nature of mathematical habits of mind essential for
today’s students. In considering these practices, we should also keep in
mind excellent recommendations from other sources in recent years,
most notably the process standards from the National Council of
Teachers and the mathematical profi ciencies described in Adding It
Up (National Research Council 2001). Both of these sources are
acknowledged in the Common Core State Standards documents, and
the writers have also considered other important discussions of mathematical
habits of mind listed in the “More to Consider” section of this
message, especially the work done by Al Cuoco, E. Paul Goldenberg,
and June Mark