Goal: Think like a mathematician! Looking for repetition in the way you draw or count, then generalize the regularity.
Source: Pattern #75 on www.VisualPatterns.org
Back to Recognizing Repetition Tasks
Event Information:
-
Wed28Oct2026Denver, CO
NCTM Annual Meeting Preconference
High-Leverage Microroutines: Maximizing Student Engagement
Description: During this preconference, participants will engage in and leave ready to apply two microroutines from the NCTM book High-Leverage Microroutines: Maximizing Student Engagement. These microroutines provide access and support for all learners and can be used with any curriculum. Participants will examine eight areas of cognition that students draw on when learning mathematics and identify students’ strengths in those areas. Participants will consider how the book’s ideas can be applied in their own contexts to ensure that all students think and reason mathematically.
Click here for more information and to register.
Comments are closed.
We used this task with a group of 8th graders. They loved it! They thought of at least 8-10 different ways to conceptualize the growth in this sequence, based on the visual pattern rather than just making a table of values. It was really impressive and they were thoroughly engaged. The task has a very low floor and a high ceiling, so it differentiates itself. It also was a rich source for mathematical discourse. Thanks!
Sounds like paying attention to process paid off for your students!
Working on this task with 8th graders, we saw several students come to the board to share their generalizations who rarely participate in class. One of these students came to the board and was the first to point out that the number of rows of 2 dots on each side was one less than the figure number. This led to the class generalizing, and coming up with an expression, from her “chunking”.
Also, this task led to students having lengthy, rich discussions when sharing their repetitions and generalizations.
It is exciting to hear that the routine offered entry points to students who typically do not participate in math class. Do you have a sense of what exactly it is about Recognizing Repetition that hooked those students?