The examination of gifted and normal students' mathematical pattern achievements

The purpose of this study is to find out how 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th grade gifted students' continuing connections of , explaining and symbolizing mathematical patterns change with respect to which mathematical pattern features and how these students differ from normal students. This study took place at the education year of 2015-2016 in Bartın with 120 students of middle class socioeconomic level from primary and elementary school and 120 students from Science and Art Centre. Quantitative methods used for data collection and analysis. The Mathematical Pattern Achievement Test developed by researcher used for data collection. Reliability coefficient KR 20 of test is 0.88. The Mathematical Pattern Achievement Test consists of "Presentation Pattern Style", "Question Type", and "Pettern Type" of three dimensions and these dimensions analyzed separately. As a result of this study, gifted students' general pattern achievements meaningfully differ from normal students can be seen clearly. Also, gifted students' achievements meaningfully differ from when their grade level changed their achievements increased with their grade level up with exception of 5th grade. 5th grade students got lowest achievement scores. On the other hand, based on the pattern presentation formats significant differences were found between gifted students' mathematical pattern achieevements. The students got highest scores at "Numeric Sequence" than " Forms" and "Tables" patterns. As a result of findings of study, based on the pattern types significant differences were found between gifted students' mathematical pattern achievements. The students got very high scores at "Repeating" patterns questions. They got lowest scores at "Quadratic Growing" pattern questions but it is close to scores of "Linear Growing" pattern questions. As a results of study, based on the question types significant differences were found between gifted students' mathematical pattern achievements. While the students could easily solve " Numerical Expression" type questions, they had difficulties "Verbal expression" type questions. The students got average score at "Symbolic Expression" type questions.