Algebra .....

After analysing assessment information from Term 3 I have identified some ongoing needs for the students in my class. One area of need for mathematics has been identified as spatial patterns, equals sign (algebra).

This has lead me to critically examine my own pedagogy and I realise this is an area in my teaching that needs improvement. Therefore to "fill the gap" in my students learning and accelerate I have made it a priority to engage in conversations with expert teachers in my school, NZ Maths and professional readings to support my teaching.

Here's what I have learnt :

• Start with small steps - students look at patterns, decide what is happening in the patterns lead students to find a way to records their thinking (tables) before trying to decide on a rule for the pattern. 

• "When students problem solve and use a table with geometric pattern tasks, they are taking the first step into the world of functional thinking"  (Friel S.N., Markworth K.A., 2009)

http://mjmorneau.pbworks.com/f/Framework+for+Analyzing+Geometric+Article.pdf

• Friel & Markworth describe the phases of problem-solving of geometric patterns

• Thinking the row number, sequence number as the stage number (n) and the total number of blocks as (t)