pattern thinking
nounUK /ˈpæt.ən ˈθɪŋ.kɪŋ/
US /ˈpæt̬.ɚn ˈθɪŋ.kɪŋ/
Pattern thinking is when you notice things that repeat and use them to figure out what comes next.
By using pattern thinking, she guessed the next shape in the row would be a blue circle.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A way of solving problems by spotting repeated shapes, numbers, or steps.
The puzzle was easy once he used pattern thinking to see the numbers went up by two each time.
3. The habit of expecting things to happen the same way they did before.
Her pattern thinking told her the bus would arrive at eight, just like every other morning.
4. A method of learning that groups similar ideas together.
In class, pattern thinking helped the children sort animals by their features.