Standards of Mathematical Practice - One Practice at a Time

Mathematical Practices are embedded in every math lesson we teach.  The Standards for Mathematical Practice describe varieties of expertise that math educators at all levels (K-12) should seek to develop in their students.  These practices rest on important "processes and proficiencies" with longstanding importance in mathematics education.

Mathematical Practice #8

Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

What should students be able to do?

• See repeated calculations and look for generalizations and shortcuts.
• See the over all process of the problem and still attend to the details.
• Understand the broader application of patterns and see the structure in similar situations.
• Continually evaluate the reasonableness of their intermediate results.

Questions the Teacher Can Ask to Develop Mathematical Thinking:

• Can you explain how this strategy works in other situations?
• Is this always true, sometimes true or never true?
• How would we prove that...?
• What do you notice about...?
• What is happening in this situation?
• What would happen if...?
• Is there a mathematical rule for...?
• What predictions or generalizations can this pattern support?
• What mathematical consistencies do you notice?