Ms. Bonnie Edwards teaches a pre-kindergarten to kindergarten class in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Let's take a look at a similar activity that takes place in her class. Her students have been working on patterns throughout the year. In this activity, several students illustrate different patterns, and the remaining students are asked to observe and identify the patterns represented. The students then work in groups to make their own patterns. Ms. Edwards asks clarifying questions and provides assistance in reasoning about the patterns.

Read the questions below before you watch the video, and keep them in mind as you watch. (You may want to watch the video a few more times before answering each question.)

• What do you think are the teacher's mathematical content goals for this lesson?
• What evidence of effective reasoning do you see? Do students justify their answers, and if so, how?
• What types of help does the teacher provide? How does she encourage reasoning?

Now please watch the video at left (duration 5:07) of Ms. Edwards' class as they work on the People Patterns activity.

  Observe a classroom