How to Recognize Talent in Mathematics

• Spontaneously formulates problems
• Handles data in a flexible manner
• Organizes data in a systematic manner
• Can generate a variety of ways to manipulate data or ideas
• Has a fluency of ideas
• Creates original interpretations
• Versatility to transfer ideas within mathematics and connect them to every day life and the world
• Use mathematics and mathematical ideas to view and explain their observations and interactions with the world
• Ability to generalize
• Often prefer oral communication to written
• Sometimes find it difficult to explain their thinking
• Sometimes enjoyable to teach and sometimes difficult to teach
• Less patient with routine and repedative performance of algorithmic procedures
• Prefer complex problems to simple
• Use estimation and approximation routinely
• Tend to move to abstract thinking quickly
• Uses reversability when solving problems
• Able to use models, diagrams, illustrations, and other graphic material for mathematical purposes
• Values metacognition, self talk, or discussion with peers during problem solving
• Persists when doing mathematics
• Enjoy doing mathematics
• Have a desire to find the most elegant solution to problems
• Left - handed, Allergic, near - sighted
• Learn rapidly, retain what they learn
Robert Sweetland's Notes ©