In this Mexican classroom we see an example of how to respond to student thinking and how to guide it forward using technology. The teacher encourages the students to look across a selection of quadratic functions to look for a pattern. Students seem surprised by the pattern they are seeing and the teacher allows them to choose their own examples in response to this. The teacher uses technology to model these examples, highlighting the key features the students need to identify. The teacher is also responsive to student inquisitiveness. When a student raises their hand to ask how quadratic equations manifest in the real world, the teacher takes the time to explore this further, seizing upon the opportunity to follow student thinking.
This is a rural, public school. Watch out for how the teacher:
- Uses a variety of examples to illustrate a connection
- Responds to student doubts with a visual example
- Scaffolds student understanding through technology
How do align instruction to student understanding in your own classroom?
