Low Floor High Ceiling Math Tasks

Low floor high ceiling tasks are those that are accessible to all but continue to provide challenge to those who find it easy initially.

Low floor high ceiling math tasks.

A low threshold high ceiling task is one which is designed to be mathematically accessible and to have built in extension opportunities. These rich problems have the following characteristics. These tasks are important because all classes are heterogeneous. In this updated feature we bring together our favourite low threshold high ceiling tasks as well as two articles which will support you in creating a low threshold high ceiling classroom.

Low threshold high ceiling tasks are activities that everyone in a group can begin and then work on at their own level of engagement but which has lots of possibilities for the participant to do much more challenging math taken from. For example 7 3 2 has a low floor as one can find the sum by counting all but the goal is to get students to make ten. Lfhc tasks allow students work at different paces and take work to different depths at different times. Low floor and high ceiling it should be our goal to develop tasks that all students can get started with but that also scale up for students who are ready for more.

Low floor high ceiling tasks are those that all students can access but that can be extended to high levels. Tasks present possibilities for the participants to do much more challenging mathematics. Do not have a predetermined solution pathway in advance. Require an inquiry approach when solving.

In other words everyone can get started and everyone can get stuck. Good anchor tasks have the ability to accelerate struggling students learning. An lthc classroom is one in which the teacher has an lthc approach which implies a certain pedagogy as well as the use of lthc tasks. A low threshold high ceiling lthc task offers the opportunity for everyone to get started and everyone to get stuck.

This is the easiest way to create a task that can work for everyone. Low floor high ceiling math problems have multiple entry points so they are accessible to all students but they can also be solved at higher levels. However in reality the task alone is not enough.