What Makes a Good Mathematician? Reflection Tool

The diagram below can be used for learners to reflect on their mathematical progress as suggested in the article Maths at Home - Nurturing Successful Mathematicians.

We have created some sheets for you to print off and use with your learners:

• Two copies of the diagram
• A sheet with space to write reflections on each of the five aspects 
• A sheet which includes the diagram and descriptions of the five aspects

There are lots of ways this tool could be used in the classroom. Here are just a few ideas:

• Learners could reflect on their mathematical profile after working on a task, and colour in sections of the path to capture a snapshot of their profile for that task.
• Learners could award themselves a baseline score for each strand (perhaps up to a maximum of 2 or 3), and colour in those sections. Then every time they feel that they have worked towards improving their capabilities in a particular strand, they could colour in another section.
• Learners could join together the furthest step they have reached on each path, and annotate it with the date, to show a series of pentagons growing outwards tracking their progress over time.