Making Sense of Mathematics and Making Mathematics Make Sense

Abstract

Two complementary stances toward mathematics are illuminated in this chapter; the sense-making stance on one hand, and the making-sense stance as a complementary stance, on the other. By juxtaposing these two different stances, issues in mathematics curriculum reform are discussed referring to the math wars in the United States. Based on experiences in writing the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics, this chapter argues for the importance of co-ordinating the two stances, as well as the difficulties of the co-ordination due to the political aspects of the division as illustrated by the math wars in the United States. The Common Core is an existence proof of the possibility of overcoming these political differences.