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The Importance Of Math Fact Automaticity, Jessica Olson
The Importance Of Math Fact Automaticity, Jessica Olson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The retention of math facts is a critical step when it comes to solving mathematical equations. The website I designed for my project addresses this topic. It focuses on giving students, teachers and parents the research, tips and resources they need to be successful. Research shows that automaticity with math facts can lessen the academic load of students and also be a predictor of future math success. Using strategies such as interleaving, engaging with manipulatives and learning mnemonic devices has been shown to positively affect one’s recall of basic facts. However, drilling and mindless repetition has a much more negative …
Developing Mathematical Thinking In High Schoolers Through “Curricular Thinking Tasks”, Michaela Weispfennig
Developing Mathematical Thinking In High Schoolers Through “Curricular Thinking Tasks”, Michaela Weispfennig
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
A review of the literature and reflection on personal experience show a need to rethink the way we teach and learn mathematics. A traditional math class relies on direct instruction and emphasizes decontextualized procedures and algorithms. This type of instruction does not work well for the majority of students, nor does it prescribe to the goals of math education in our modern world. We don’t need “human computers'' like we did before the internet. Instead, the primary goal for most high school math students is to develop the mathematical thinking skills needed to tackle new problems. Inspired by Peter Liljedahl’s …
Developing A Deep Understanding Of Multiplication And A Growth Mindset In 5th Grade Students From Marginalized Groups, Rachael Johnson
Developing A Deep Understanding Of Multiplication And A Growth Mindset In 5th Grade Students From Marginalized Groups, Rachael Johnson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Traditionally mathematics has been taught with a focus of rote memorization of basic facts and procedures. Research has found that this often leaves students without the conceptual understanding behind procedures. This can prevent students from making the connections necessary to transfer their knowledge to other situations. It has also become clear that students from marginalized groups often score much lower on high stakes tests than their white counterparts. This project involved creating a multiplication unit that uses number talks, strategies from cognitively guided instruction as well as ideas on culturally relevant teaching. The goal of this project was for students …
Designing A Professional Development Series For Educators On The Benefits Of Mathematical Manipulatives For Elementary Students’ Understanding And Mindset, Emily Geraghty
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has shown that manipulative use has a positive impact on elementary students’ understanding and mindset during their mathematics instruction. Yet, some K-5 educators are not aware of the benefits or do not know how to effectively implement manipulatives in their classrooms. This led to the creation of a professional development series. The goal of the project is for K-5 educators to learn about the benefits of manipulatives on students’ understanding and mindset through active learning, practice and application. This is made possible through slides, videos, discussion and example lessons that utilize manipulatives. By participating in the professional development series, …
Implementing Math Discourse And Rich Math Tasks To Develop Mathematical Thinking, Heather Berry
Implementing Math Discourse And Rich Math Tasks To Develop Mathematical Thinking, Heather Berry
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Math is more than quick computation and the pursuit of correct answers. Math is sense-making. For students to thrive as problem solvers and critical thinkers in the classroom and beyond, attention must be paid to the development of their mathematical thinking. Mathematical thinking refers to the abilities to efficiently distinguish amongst specific procedures and flexibly formulate and represent strategies to suit a situation. It also includes the capacity to explain, analyze and justify one’s thinking with an understanding of self as an effective learner of math (Baroody et al., 2007; Boaler, 2018; Katz, 2014; Schoenfeld, 2016). This capstone project uses …
Combining Cognitively Guided Instruction With Required Mathematics Curriculum To Improve Overall Number Sense And Problem Solving Skill, Anna Becker
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Elementary school mathematics instruction often moves quickly from one to one correspondence to algorithms and rote exercises, leaving students with procedural knowledge but lacking in number sense and problem solving skills. Teachers follow the required curriculum to ensure success on assessments but skip over important instructional time that leads to number sense and a deeper understanding. Bringing Cognitively Guided Instruction into the classroom will improve students’ problem solving skills while also strengthening their number sense. This project provides educators with a full unit of detailed lesson plans for the kindergarten classroom. It also includes an outline of another unit with …
Fostering Critical Thinking Skills, And Engagement To Produce Better Retention Of 4th Grade Math, Christine Prostrollo
Fostering Critical Thinking Skills, And Engagement To Produce Better Retention Of 4th Grade Math, Christine Prostrollo
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
My research question for this capstone project is: Which instructional approach best fosters critical thinking skills, engagement, and long-term retention in mathematics to best prepare 4th-grade students for the 21st century? My research suggests that a mathematics curriculum that best fosters these areas of learning would likely be the most successful at preparing our students for 21st-century learning. The various instructional approaches discussed in this literature review all have their strengths and weaknesses. Because of this, a combination approach of inquiry and direct instruction while focusing on the development of critical thinking skills, engagement, and long-term retention should be the …
Toxic Math-Masculinity: Changing Harmful Lay Theories Of Mathematics To Improve Student Achievement, Zac Kamm
Toxic Math-Masculinity: Changing Harmful Lay Theories Of Mathematics To Improve Student Achievement, Zac Kamm
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Students often come into the secondary math classroom with an implicit understanding of mathematics that negatively affects their performance in the classroom. These lay theories often reinforce an entity theory of mathematical ability that views ability as fixed and unchangeable. In turn, this view of mathematical ability influences students’ goal orientations. Research shows the positive benefits of an incremental theory of mathematical ability and a mastery goal orientation on mathematics student achievement. Much of the research literature focuses on describing or quantifying the connection between incremental theories of mathematical ability and student achievement rather than describing effective strategies for changing …
Raising The Awareness Of Somali Families: The Positive Impact Of Dual Language Education On Student Success, Khaleef Warsame
Raising The Awareness Of Somali Families: The Positive Impact Of Dual Language Education On Student Success, Khaleef Warsame
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Studies have found that dual language education is powerful for all learners and particularly essential for the success of first- and second-generation immigrant learners in the United States. The learning model enhances students’ academic achievement, school participation, and healthy identity development. Students proficient in both their heritage language and culture and their new homeland’s dominant culture and language are also more likely to gain higher upward mobility and enjoy advanced cognitive development. While the benefits of dual language education (DLE) are explicitly illustrated in the literature, there are currently no Somali dual language programs found to be existing in Minnesota …
Real-World Learning In Middle School Mathematics, Elizabeth Ackerson
Real-World Learning In Middle School Mathematics, Elizabeth Ackerson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
My research question for my capstone project is: How does incorporating real-world word problems into weekly math curriculum in middle school affect students' learning, engagement, and understanding? I have created a math word problem curriculum, “Word Problem Wednesday”, to be used in my own math classroom to create real-world learning opportunities through problem-solving. I teach 5th-grade math, and I have noticed a lack of understanding of word problems related to problem-solving in the classroom. The curriculum I have developed is based on the need for a curriculum where word problems are purposefully incorporated weekly with meaning while creating understanding. Every …
Improving Student Learning And Number Sense Through The Combination Of Cooperative Learning And Number Talks, Timothy Augustin
Improving Student Learning And Number Sense Through The Combination Of Cooperative Learning And Number Talks, Timothy Augustin
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This study explores the combination of two pedagogical techniques contributing to the development of mathematical literacy in one sixth grade mathematics class. The techniques involved in this project are cooperative learning, which focuses on the learning environment and Number Talks, which focuses on the development of number sense. This three month study involves implementing cooperative learning groups and instilling Number Talks to one sixth grade class of 20 students daily. For this study, the teacher and students participate in a series of monthly assessments, quantitative and qualitative, that are designed to measure the success of the project. This study intends …
Word Problem Wednesday, Elizabeth Ackerson
Word Problem Wednesday, Elizabeth Ackerson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
My research question for my capstone project is: How does incorporating real-world word problems into weekly math curriculum in middle school affect students' learning, engagement, and understanding? I have created a math word problem curriculum, “Word Problem Wednesday”, to be used in my own math classroom to create real-world learning opportunities through problem-solving. I teach 5th-grade math, and I have noticed a lack of understanding of word problems related to problem-solving in the classroom. The curriculum I have developed is based on the need for a curriculum where word problems are purposefully incorporated weekly with meaning while creating understanding. Every …
Cognitively Guided Instruction Strategies For Strengthening Fifth-Grade Students Understanding Of Fraction Concepts, Hao Li
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
An area in mathematics critical for building mathematical knowledge and reasoning is developing children's foundational knowledge of fractions. Understanding fractions is also a building block for developing students' algebraic reasoning and sense-making (NMAP, 2008;) It is very common to see in fifth-grade math classroom there are students who think fraction concepts and procedures seem to have no link to one another and for whom meaning-making in fractions is a challenge (Pitsolantis & Osana, 2013). Therefore, how to design math activities that will increase fifth-grade students' understanding of fraction concepts emerged as research question for this capstone project. History of learning …