The Rule of Four Multiple Representations

Professional Development Outline

Victoria Coburn
Goals
Teachers will learn how to help their students find connections between the four
representations: graphs, tables, patterns, and rules
Teachers will learn ways to challenge their students with difficult problems that
require them to think deeply about the relationships between the different
representations
Teachers will experience an inquiry-based math lesson
Preparation and Materials
CCSS and MPS standards
Copies of the article Linear and Quadratic Change: A Problem from Japan
Wikispace: Facilitation Guide for the Covariation and Correspondence
Perspectives of Functions Learning Cycle Toothpick Figures
Toothpicks
https://lzlomek.wordpress.com/2012/08/18/my-favorite-unit-to-teach-linearfunctions/ The following five bullets come from this web site:
Rule of 4 for Linear Equations activity
Desk Hop Linear Equations activity handouts
Writing an Equation from 2 points Template
y = mx + b song lyrics handout
Karaoke music to Y.M.C.A.
http://illuminations.nctm.org/Lesson.aspx?id=2112 6 -8 lesson plan for Supreme
Court Hand Shake
Poster paper
Marking Pens
Time
Task
8:30 8:45 Welcome and Purpose
Welcome and introductions. Ask participants to introduce
themselves: say your name, where youre from, and one word that
describes what youre thinking about The Rule of Four
Review agenda of the professional development
8:45
Math Task Toothpick figures
10:00
Small group and whole group discussions of the mathematics
Read the article, Linear and Quadratic Change: A Problem from
Japan
Look for examples of student thinking
Whole group discussion
10:00
Break
10:15

10:15
10:45

10:45
11:15

11:15
12:00
12:00
12:30

12:30
2:00

2:00 2:30

Desk Hop (activity in pairs)

Each of the 20 problems will be spread out all over the
professional development room
Pairs get the answer sheet and roam through the problems in any
order to write and interpret the linear equations
Debrief activity
Rule of 4 for Linear Equations
Give teachers the set of worksheets (this is something to take back
to the classroom to use with their students)
Group discussion what four parts are included in the Rule of Four
Creating poster divided into four sections. The teacher teams are
given a function. In one of the quadrants, they write the function.
They will then pass the posters to a new team. That team will
either write a graph, data table or situation in one of the quadrants
of the posters. Keep passing the posters along until all four are
indicated on the poster.
Activity debrief. Each poster will then be analyzed by the group to
verify the posters accuracy
LUNCH
Writing an Equation from 2 points Template
Introduce teachers to the intervention template for students who
struggle with writing an equation when they are given two points.
Tell teachers to put this template into a sheet protector to be used
over and over again
Another intervention strategy is the song y = mx + b sung to the
tune of Y.M.C.A. Group sing-a-long.
Supreme Court Handshake
Teachers in cooperative groups will work together to determine
how many handshakes take place among the nine Supreme Court
justices
Teachers will investigate the problem using multiple
representations: a concrete representation (by acting it out),
pictures, table of values, a graph, and create an algebraic formula
Reflection Discussion:
How are the Practice Standards reflected in the tasks that you have
done today?
What new connections or ideas about The Rule of Four have you
made?
How does teaching math inquiry-style affect students conceptual
development?
What changes do you foresee for your class?
What concerns do you have?