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High School Mathematics: A Venue For Political Resistance To White Supremacy, Morgan Kendall Fierst
High School Mathematics: A Venue For Political Resistance To White Supremacy, Morgan Kendall Fierst
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The teaching of mathematics in the United States is biased, unjust, and racist. It pretends to be a politically neutral subject despite its inherent white supremist structures and systems. Three main structural component of mathematics education support White Supremacy and need to be dismantled and restructured: inequitable access, the dehumanization of students, and the emphasis of the individual. Mathematics education can be a venue for political resistance to White Supremacy. This project outlines a yearlong advanced algebra curriculum that is rooted in student voice, community engagement, and social connection and includes: essential foundational work, curriculum design, a pacing guide, course-learning …
Designing Pedagogy For Existing Mathematics: Measurement Curriculum In A Language Immersion School, Jihee Jina Kim
Designing Pedagogy For Existing Mathematics: Measurement Curriculum In A Language Immersion School, Jihee Jina Kim
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This project addressed the research question of how instruction in the multilingual classroom learning environment can be beneficial in a language immersion school? How should the first-year teacher start to deliver effectively for students in multicultural circumstances? This document created curriculum for the subject of measurement taught by a first-year language immersion school teacher and included appropriate teaching pedagogy according to students’ individual circumstance in second grade mathematics. The author has keenly researched current, various perspectives from teachers, parents, and students as well as other facts regarding language immersion schools. Where there are students of different educational backgrounds, the teacher …
Influencing Factors For Academic Tracking In High School Mathematics, Matthew Minowitz
Influencing Factors For Academic Tracking In High School Mathematics, Matthew Minowitz
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone thesis is: What are prominent influencing factors related to academic tracking in mathematics? The thesis discusses influencing factors through a qualitative analysis of archival school data, student surveys, and student interviews. The research takes place in a “fringe rural” suburban public high school of a Midwest city with graduating class sizes between 200 and 250 students. This research identifies factors which have influenced student placement into high school mathematics tracks which are one year behind grade-level and two years ahead of grade-level. Conclusions from the study include findings related to family influences (eg. …
Instructional Strategies To Promote Engagement For Students Of Poverty In A Mathematics Classroom, Jessica Lind
Instructional Strategies To Promote Engagement For Students Of Poverty In A Mathematics Classroom, Jessica Lind
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was, what instructional strategies can I employ with my high school students of poverty to better engage them in learning mathematics? It documents one teacher’s creation of a presentation designed for high school mathematics teachers who are looking for strategies to engage their students in the classroom. The presentation discusses the barriers of learning for students of poverty and gives several suggestions for teachers to help students overcome these barriers. The presentation also discusses six teaching strategies and gives a sample lesson plan of each strategy in a high school classroom setting. The …
How Can Students Benefit From Chinese Immersion Schools, Li Zheng
How Can Students Benefit From Chinese Immersion Schools, Li Zheng
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question in this article is to find out in what ways students can benefit from Chinese immersion schools. It documents in depth of three areas: Chinese language skills, students’ academic success, and classroom learning environments. The author integrates research data and interviews about Chinese immersion schools students and teachers. Findings suggest that Chinese immersion schools encourage students’ Chinese language skills, improve students’ academic success, and provide effective classroom learning environments.
Can Frequent Use Of Number Talks Increase The Comprehension, Understanding, And Fluency Of Fractions, Decimals, And Percentages In Alternative High School Students?, Mark Duffy
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Following a nine-week math talk intervention across three classes and two alternative high school sites, an analysis is made of the effectiveness of number talks on building basic skills in understanding fractions, decimals, and percentages amongst alternative high school students. This intervention was embedded within a probability and statistics course. This intervention used a combination of qualitative and quantitative data to determine how large an impact these talks had on the students. While the sample size involved was small, increased understanding of these core skills was evident.
How Can Inquiry-Based Learning Be Successfully Implemented In The Secondary Mathematics Classroom, Aaron Kadera
How Can Inquiry-Based Learning Be Successfully Implemented In The Secondary Mathematics Classroom, Aaron Kadera
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was, how can inquiry-based learning by successfully integrated in the secondary mathematics classroom? It documents one teacher’s creation of a set of inquiry-based curriculum modules intended for use in AP Calculus AB and Precalculus courses. The curriculum created by the author aims to guide students to construct new knowledge through a process of settling doubt within a community of learners; a process known as an inquiry cycle. He analyzes both the intended use and flexibility the curriculum modules, discusses how to measure their effectiveness, and how to adopt different strategies in the case …
Developing Academic Language In The Context Of A Fourth Grade Mathematics Geometry Curriculum Unit, Rachel J. Pazandak
Developing Academic Language In The Context Of A Fourth Grade Mathematics Geometry Curriculum Unit, Rachel J. Pazandak
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone project was: How can a mathematics geometry curriculum unit be organized to support and develop academic language for fourth grade students through meaningful engagement strategies? The author reviewed literature in the areas of English as a Second Language and mathematics and synthesized best practice methods for teaching common to the two disciplines. The author found that explicit teaching, practice, and support of academic language is vital and beneficial for linguistically diverse learners, with attention to word, sentence, and discourse dimensions. Mathematics is rich in language, particularly when lessons are structured to allow students …
Self-Efficacy And The Transfer Of Collabortive [Sic] Learning To Independent Assessments In The Mathematics Classroom, Ashley K. Andrews
Self-Efficacy And The Transfer Of Collabortive [Sic] Learning To Independent Assessments In The Mathematics Classroom, Ashley K. Andrews
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone investigates the research question: What instructional strategies best allow middle school students to develop self-efficacy as they transfer collaborative learning to individual assessments in the mathematics classroom? The author conducted action research in urban schools with an at-risk student population. Within the action research framework, the author applies a qualitative approach to examine instructional strategies that encourage all students to become flexible learners. This capstone ultimately argues that clear expectations and mindset largely impact student success, regardless of the task. It discusses the influence of mindset on student engagement during both collaborative and independent tasks.
Effective Strategies For Students To Become More Successful Math Word Problem Solvers, Nissa Benedict
Effective Strategies For Students To Become More Successful Math Word Problem Solvers, Nissa Benedict
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, what effect do different strategies have on middle and high school student comprehension and success in solving math word problems? It details one teacher’s creation of a unit that focuses on three specific word problem solving strategies for high school students. The unit implements the problem solving process, schemabroadening problem solving, and using diagrams, based on various scholars’ research into each strategy. The author details the goals of the unit and uses related research literature to validate the study. She reflects on possible struggles while implementing the unit and the possibilities the …
Differentiating Instruction To Develop Conceptual Understanding In Multiplication, Christopher A. Kamrath
Differentiating Instruction To Develop Conceptual Understanding In Multiplication, Christopher A. Kamrath
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was: How can curriculum be created to increase student conceptual understanding of multiplication? The author investigated how to develop an understanding in multiplication through research on conceptual understanding, the stages of learning multiplication and how to integrate a conceptual understanding into the classroom. The author considered the work of Boaler, Brickwedde, Carpenter and Wright to guide his research. The Understanding by Design model from Wiggins and McTighe was used to create the curriculum. The research resulted in a six week multiplication curriculum which consists of daily forty-five minute intervention period through four stations: …
How Can I Improve The Math Performance Of Intermediate Students Using Game-Based Learning, Leann M. Karl
How Can I Improve The Math Performance Of Intermediate Students Using Game-Based Learning, Leann M. Karl
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this project was, how can I improve the math performance of intermediate students using game-based learning? It provides multiple sources of research on game-based learning and website design, along with the original creation of an authentic game-based learning website; gamebaseded.com. Throughout the project chapters, the author describes the limitations and benefits of the game-based learning website. The documented benefits include increased engagement, participation, and academic scores.
English Learners’ Oral Production Of Math Vocabulary In A Play-Infused Kindergarten Classroom, Meagan Reissy
English Learners’ Oral Production Of Math Vocabulary In A Play-Infused Kindergarten Classroom, Meagan Reissy
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Research indicates that ELs’ vocabulary knowledge is an important basis for building communication skills in a second language, as well as a strong predictor of later academic skills. High quality vocabulary instruction is crucial and the literature emphasizes direct instruction techniques with words that are intentionally selected (Anderson & Nagy, 1993; Christ, 2007; Silverman & Crandell, 2010). However, little research has been done in kindergarten classrooms that teach through a play-based curriculum which avoids extensive amounts of direct instruction. This qualitative casestudy of two ELs in a kindergarten classroom using the Angry Birds Playground (ABP) framework to guide curriculum and …
How Can A Self-Esteem Curriculum In A Mathematics Classroom Increase The Confidence And Ability Of Female Students?, Shelly Jean Chermack
How Can A Self-Esteem Curriculum In A Mathematics Classroom Increase The Confidence And Ability Of Female Students?, Shelly Jean Chermack
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The teacher in this research decided to look at both single-sex groups and self-esteem curriculum and how they can help female students’ confidence, self-esteem, self-concept, and math grades or ability. Over the course of a quarter, the teacher incorporated self-esteem and community building activities that are identified and the subjects (high school geometry students) were given pre- and post-assessments as well as surveys to assess their emotional states in terms of selfesteem and self-concept. The participants were given surveys at the beginning and the end of the research and comparisons were sought between the two surveys.
Teaching Math Academic Language In Chinese Immersion Middle Schools, Xu Zhu
Teaching Math Academic Language In Chinese Immersion Middle Schools, Xu Zhu
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The guiding question of this capstone is: How should teachers teach math academic language and support students using math academic language in Chinese immersion middle schools? Academic language is the language that students need in acquiring new knowledge, while teachers in language immersion schools need help with teaching academic language. This capstone presents a curriculum project to guide teachers in Chinese immersion middle schools to teach math academic language with a concentration on students’ communication and collaboration. Integrating the ideas in the studies of academic language, language immersion education, teaching middle school math, and student-centered learning, the project plays a …
Sfl In The Secondary Classroom: Writing Procedural Recounts To Describe Thinking When Solving Algebraic Equations, Theresa Brunker
Sfl In The Secondary Classroom: Writing Procedural Recounts To Describe Thinking When Solving Algebraic Equations, Theresa Brunker
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research questions addressed in this classroom study were, after explicit instruction, do students choose language structures inherent to procedural recounts, such as technical verb processes, precise nouns, sequence words and causal phrases to describe their mathematical thinking? Additionally, do student self-perceptions of their mathematical abilities change after learning to write procedural recounts to describe their thinking processes? This study examined the use of these language structures prior to explicit instruction in writing procedural recounts and compared it to post-intervention writing samples. The author documents the use of these writing structures by participants before and after intervention and finds relational …
The Impact Of Math Talks On Student Achievement In Kindergarten, Emily Payan
The Impact Of Math Talks On Student Achievement In Kindergarten, Emily Payan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The core goal of this study was to answer the question, How do daily math talks impact student achievement in kindergarten? Math talks were implemented daily in a Title I kindergarten classroom over a period of six weeks. The findings suggest that the use of math talks as an integral part of instruction positively impact student achievement. The average growth in the experimental group was an increase of 42% in the composite scores by the end of the study, compared to a 31% increase in the control group. The experimental group in this study started as a more emergent group …
From Mathmagicians To Mathematicians: Constructing Cognitive Understanding Over Trusting The Algorithm, Kathryn A. Gould
From Mathmagicians To Mathematicians: Constructing Cognitive Understanding Over Trusting The Algorithm, Kathryn A. Gould
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone posed the question: what theoretical basis and best practices should be used to guide instruction that develops fluency in conceptualizing and executing multiplication strategies over the arc of third grade? With its foundation in constructivist learning theory and steeped in the research of Thomas Carpenter et al.’s Cognitively Guided Instruction this curriculum design project guides educators towards instruction that puts the students’ experience with multiplication in the forefront. Leaving behind the method of direct instruction of multiplication facts and algorithms. Research presented will show the dangers of leaning too heavily on procedural fluency and will focus on what …
Mathematics Vocabulary: Teaching Tier 3 Language Of Math Fractions To English Learners, Emily Grove
Mathematics Vocabulary: Teaching Tier 3 Language Of Math Fractions To English Learners, Emily Grove
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone sought to research vocabulary instruction techniques and strategies in the upper elementary classroom. The need for specific instruction and activities was identified and described. Several relevant sources were cited including August, Calderòn and Beck, resources and techniques used traditionally in the language arts classroom were also applied to the mathematics classroom. A curriculum addendum was created and described in detail. This curriculum and approach to teaching mathematical vocabulary terms in the 4th grade fractions unit can be altered to different vocabulary terms for other units of instruction outside of the mathematics classroom. Strategies and techniques described include interactive …