Part 4

Choose an idea to try with students.

1. Choose one of Carpenter's Five Principles as a focus between now and when we return for Session 4. Share with a colleague your choice and talk together about ideas you will try to bring this principle to life in your classroom.

2. Consider the multiplication and division situations you categorized and analyzed this session. Choose one -- perhaps the one that you predicted students might find most challenging -- or better yet, write a parallel task that better engages your students and supports your class' "participation and access into the problem" (see Carpenter, #3).

Use this question as the basis for an interview with one or two students or as a whole class task. Analyze the results and notice where the challenges occurred (if there were any). Decide on an instructional plan that you believe will help advance learning. Carry out the plan using a parallel question.

Monitor growth by returning to the original question to see if students are able to apply their new learning.