After learning about the Van Hiele Geometric Levels of Thinking- Where do you think you generally fit into this framework? How will you use this information in your instructional practice?
In terms of Van Hiele's Geometric Levels of Thinking, I believe that I generally fit into the framework at a Level 2- Informal Deduction. When observing shapes, I pay attention to relationships among each shape and among the classes for each shape. I tend to pay attention to the fact that each shape makes up a group of shapes such as a rectangle and square make up a parallelogram with right angles. I informally observe shapes and tend to make "intuitive observations about certain shapes as they organize known properties" such as vertices, faces, angles, etc.
In my instructional practice, I will use this information to assess children in their levels of thinking. I understand that each child learns differently, but in regards to geometry and mathematical processes, I can use this information to distinguish each student among each other in terms of their level of thinking. In addition, I can use this framework to help assess each student and his/her individual needs. I can also use the framework when determining what areas of the lesson may need additional practice.
Just be sure that when you are evaluating student thinking using these levels that the findings are connected to their thinking and not the task that you presented. Often we think our students are on a lower level because of what we are asking them to do.
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