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As students demonstrated mastery of finding sets of shapes with one attribute difference, they were encouraged to find shapes with two attribute differences, and then three attribute differences. At times, students interpreted a presenter’s finding by guessing on the basis of given sets. For example, if a student held up one big, thick, blue circle and one big, thin, blue triangle, then how many differences exist? Yes, there are two differences: in shape and thickness. When a student held up two shapes that he or she thought contained two differences, the student was reasoning among the attributes. Students within the same group critiqued the reasoning of that student, determining if he or she was correct. As an example of such communication, one student in particular held up a small, thick, red triangle and a large, thick, blue circle. Another student stated, “Those shapes have three differences instead of two.” As a result, the student holding up the shapes reflected on his thinking and decided to pick up a small, thick, red triangle and a small, thick, blue circle.This interaction among students exemplifies the reasoning and sense making described by NCTM as well as the practices that promote mathematically proficient students as described by the Standards of Mathematical Practice (SMP) in the Common Core State Standards (CCSSI 2010) and by the National Research Council (NRC 2001).Grouping by three attribute differences was difficult for most of the students. Only one group was successful. When asked to describe the group’s strategy, one of its members explained, “First I see how the shapes are alike.”Many of the students focused on similarities among the shapes before identifying differences. The strategy of working backward assisted students in finding shapes that fit this category. For example, referring to the previous dialogue, the student held up a small, thick, red triangle and a large, thick, blue circle. A student who works backward would identify how the shapes are alike first: they are both thick. Therefore, everything else is a difference: color, shape, and size. In other words, if the shapes have only one similarity, then they have three differences. Sharing this student’s finding with the class prompted the other groups to continue searching for shapes with three attribute differences. The student responses to this activity were indicative of their abilities to recognize and verbalize their understanding among the characteristics and properties of the shapes. As a result, they could make connections among the properties and characteristics, which is consistent with the Van Hiele directed-orientation phase.
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