Describing and Identifying Patterns

The workshop Teaching Math (9-12) examines the NCTM process standards: communication, problem solving, reasoning, connections, and representation. As I'm working through the material, I have been reminded several times of the techniques involved in Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction. I attended a SIWI workshop this week, and I'm excited about finding ways to use it in my high school math classroom. I hope to post my ideas and resources in this blog.

NCTM Communication Standard
Instructional programs . . . should enable all students to --
* Organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking through communication
* Communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers, teachers, and others
* Analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others
* Use the language of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely

Teaching Math: A Video Library (9-12)

Using Effective Questioning

Using Precise Language: This would be a neat activity to have students do with a partner. Give one students a pattern and have him describe it to his partner. The partner must then draw the pattern as best she can and ask questions for clarification. Then the two can work together to figure out and write about the pattern's rule. As a class, the partners would serve at the primary authors to write a description of each pattern to post as a blog or wiki for another math class to read and figure out.