In this section, you will take a look at your own, rather than your students', approach to a task. As an adult, you possess considerable knowledge about geometry, algebra, patterns, numbers, and calculations. You may not consciously be aware of the connections among these ideas that you make while teaching and while solving problems. The following activity gives you a chance to explore how making connections relates to a better understanding of mathematical concepts -- and this heightened awareness of connections is a first step toward supporting students as they increase the use of connections to learn mathematics. As you work through the activity, pay attention to the variety of mathematics you use to think about the problem, the connections you make, and the new applications of mathematical concepts you encounter.

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