Goal:
Think like a mathematician! Connect visual representations to algebraic expressions by chunking, changing the form, and/or connecting to math you know.
Event Information:
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Tue08Jun2021Tue20Jul2021Remote
Online Course
What is mathematical thinking and how do we teach it?
Participants will develop a deep understanding of what it means to think and reason mathematically. They will learn three distinct ways of thinking mathematically championed in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practice: reasoning quantitatively, thinking structurally, and reasoning through repetition. In addition, participants will learn how to develop these avenues of thinking in their students.
Register here by June 7th at noon EDT
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Typically we provide just one visual, but in this task set we played with providing three terms of a visual pattern. The annotation remains the same on each of the three terms so students can key in on the way the chunks grow, or do not grow.
I did this task today with my students and left out the representation for 3(n+1) +3. After the students matched the other two expressions with two pictures, I had them draw a representation for the lonely expression. It went really well! When I do it again next year though, I’ll have the W pattern already printed out for the students so it is easier for them to then just show the representation by grouping, circling, moving, etc. It was a hard pattern for them to draw. I watched Amy model a “Connecting Representations” task in Delaware 2 weeks ago, so I modeled after her. It went really well!!!
Sounds like it went well! I agree that drawing the representation is tedious, and annotating a copy of it is more effective. Grace and I typically recommend that you provide one copy per partnership so that students continue to work together rather than transitioning to individual work. Please keep us posted as you test-drive additional tasks. These reflections are so valuable for others as they implement. Thank you!