Patterns...A Way to Teach "Smarter, Not Harder!"

One of the most powerful skills in increasing fact fluency and numerical flexibility is pattern recognition.  I know, it seems really simple...almost TOO simple.  However, there is a tremendous amount of power in it. Recognizing patterns can help students to:

• Develop true place value understanding (think about the 0-99 chart).
• Take ownership of what they discover, and therefore make sense of number.
• Think critically about number, and make reasonable predictions and conjectures.
• Start to discover and understand properties (which is super important, especially later on)..
• Have fun!

If this isn't enough, the use of patterns is an essential part of our practice standards!  So actually, it's a Common Core-based expectation...  

• SMP 7: Look for and make use of structure.  Mathematically proficient students look closely to discern a pattern or structure. 
• SMP8: Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.  Mathematically proficient students notice if calculations are repeated, and look both for general methods and for shortcuts.

Here are some ways you can use patterns with your students

• Post and use the 0-99 chart.
• Skip count on a regular basis.  
• Mrs. Schoening makes it a regular practice to have her students to count by different increments such as 3, 5, 6, etc.  She found that her students began to make the connection between their frequent skip counting and multiplication.  This made achieving fact fluency easier for them AND her!
• Students can "line up" in different increments, or even number their papers for example in increments of four.
• While waiting in line, or during transition, you can call out a number, and the students start to tell you the next numbers in succession!
• Use number lines to count forward/backward, add/subtract, multiply/divide, show fractions, etc.  See the example below?

• Algebraically (either without numbers, or with missing parts)

The possibilities are ENDLESS!  Try patterning, and let me know how it works!

FREEBIE:  Here is a cute link to a St. Patrick's Day patterning activity.  It comes from The Math Coach's Corner.  Enjoy!