What's My Rule?

Carroll’s math program emphasizes developing our students’ cognitive skills with lessons that develop logical and strategic thinking in problem solving. Gathered in a small group, one teacher asks 4th grade students questions about the attributes of the different manipulatives in front of them. “How do you describe this object?” One young student observes, “It’s square, yellow, small and thin.” The lesson continues as Ms. Lyslo lays down a circle and says, “I have a rule.”

After observing the manipulatives that have different attributes of size, color, shape and thickness, the students begin the process of determining the “rule”. Ms. Lyslo asks, “What are you going to test? What shape do you think you should place in the circle?” Each student explains to the group his/her reasons when selecting a manipulative.

Through a process that enhances logical and strategic thinking, the children “test” their hypotheses, and Ms. Lyslo agrees or disagrees with their selections. Several minutes later—following discussions and trials, after searching through shapes of hexagons, triangles, and circles in different colors and sizes—a student raises his hand and says, “I know the rule!” With great excitement, he explains his conclusion to his teacher and fellow students.