Chapter 14 - Patterns

            I don’t recall coming across too many pattern questions in the past.  I now know the importance of patterns – it can help children ‘organize their world and understand mathematics’.  There are several kinds of patterns.  One of them is the classic repeating pattern.  My question is, how do you explain a pattern to someone?  Isn’t it self explanatory – you see the repetition in something and there you have it! A pattern!  Let’s say there are objects that follow as such: red blue, red, blue  and it asks what is the color of the following object.  Some children might say red (which is correct) and some might say blue.  Instead of just telling them the answer is red, the text suggests that children have minds that are difficult to get so it is important to have them explain their ideas to you.  Sharing ideas help the kids consider alternative ways to look at patterns.  Studies show that kids should start by recognizing patterns and thinking about them and then eventually encouraged to look at patterns in different ways.