Stimulating Understanding of Properties of Quadrilaterals Using Van Hiele’s Model: A Lesson Study

This paper explores Van Hiele’s Model's use in planning the tasks to identify the properties of quadrilaterals. Lesson study, a professional development program that enables teachers to collaborate to improve teaching and learning quality, was utilized to get necessary data needed for the study. The authors aimed to see to what extent Van Hiele’s Model affects the students’ engagement and development of knowledge in the learning of the research topic. Some observations during the research lesson were as follows: 1) retention of prior knowledge on quadrilaterals was little to non-evident to the students 2) most students still use jargons in order to describe the properties of quadrilaterals and 3) most students were not able to showcase skills in measuring lengths and angles in identifying properties of the quadrilaterals. Given these observations, the following recommendations were as follows: 1) continuous integration and use of mathematical tools such as ruler and protractor in teaching different concepts and processes in Mathematics 2) identifying the level of the learners’ readiness based on the Van Hiele’s model to provide appropriate examples and activities in the context of the students 3) providing hands-on activities such as geometric construction and measuring activities that would enhance students’ capabilities in reasoning and proving. Lesson study served as a powerful tool to reflect on the researchers' processes and activities in conducting the study.