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Science and Mathematics Education
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
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Building Math Esteem In Fifth Grade Students, Karen Schur
Building Math Esteem In Fifth Grade Students, Karen Schur
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my classroom of 5th grade mathematics, I investigate the levels of math esteem in each student and as a classroom. The definition of esteem on which I am basing my research is the judgment or estimation of the self-assurance of a student in math. I discovered that several of the students entered my classroom with a middle to low level of esteem in math, and about a third of the class already exhibited a positive, high esteem in math. After implementation of the research, and interpreting the data, I believe almost all the students …
It Is Not Just The Solution Anymore, Carol Brown
It Is Not Just The Solution Anymore, Carol Brown
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of a fifth grade enrichment mathematics class, I investigate how problem solving strategies and group work opportunities influence the students’ use of strategies and graphic representations. Though there are no large gains in the students’ use of strategies, some students show minor gains in their use of representations. I also investigate the influence of group work upon usage of representations. At the beginning of the study most students indicate that working in groups is helpful in finding solutions. Toward the end, 52.9 percent of the students indicate that while group work is beneficial for “reasoning” …
Connections Between Communication And Math Abilities, Rachelle Mayo
Connections Between Communication And Math Abilities, Rachelle Mayo
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my Class I School’s 5th and 8th grade mathematics, I investigated students’ connections between communication of math skills and their math abilities. I discovered that students can increase their math abilities with the opportunities to discuss their thinking as well as evaluate thinking and strategies of other students. Electronic communication can be a valuable source for students to communicate further to other students.
Using Cooperative Learning To Promote A Problem-Solving Classroom, Amy Nebesniak
Using Cooperative Learning To Promote A Problem-Solving Classroom, Amy Nebesniak
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my eighth grade mathematics classroom, I investigate the benefits of cooperative learning, the support structures needed to promote a cooperative learning environment, and students’ ability to transfer the cooperative learning skills into less structured problem solving situations. The data analysis reveals that cooperative learning increases students’ confidence level as well as their involvement in the learning process. In order to create successful teams, students require my providing support structures and modifying the support for each group of students. Finally, students are able to more effectively apply their cooperative skills in concrete situations as compared …
The Use Of Think-Aloud Strategies To Solve Word Problems, Lisa M. Henjes
The Use Of Think-Aloud Strategies To Solve Word Problems, Lisa M. Henjes
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my sixth grade mathematics class, I investigated how students’ use of think-aloud strategies impacts their success in solving word problems. My research reveals that the use of think-aloud strategies can play an important role in the students’ abilities to understand and solve word problems. Direct instruction and modeling of think-aloud strategies increased my students’ confidence levels and the likelihood that they would use the strategies on their own. Providing students with a template to use as they solve a word problem helps students to better focus in on the think-aloud strategies I had been …
Writing In The Mathematics Classroom: Does It Have An Effect On Students’ Mathematical Reasoning?, Rachel Bunnett
Writing In The Mathematics Classroom: Does It Have An Effect On Students’ Mathematical Reasoning?, Rachel Bunnett
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my classroom of 5th grade mathematics, I investigate how to improve students’ written explanations to and reasoning of math problems. For this, I look at journal writing, dialogue, and collaborative grouping and its effects on students’ conceptual understanding of the mathematics. In particular, I look at its effects on students’ written explanations to various math problems throughout the semester. Throughout the study students worked on math problems in cooperative groups and then shared their solutions with classmates. Along with this I focus on the dialogue that occurred during these interactions and whether and how …
A Study Of The Role Of Mnemonics In Learning Mathematics, Kathy Delashmutt
A Study Of The Role Of Mnemonics In Learning Mathematics, Kathy Delashmutt
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my fifth grade mathematics teaching, I investigated student engagement levels in the classroom, with a specific interest in the importance and effectiveness of mnemonics in learning mathematics for all learners. I defined mnemonic instruction as a strategy that provides a visual or verbal prompt for students who may have difficulty retaining information. It is a memory enhancing instructional strategy that involved teaching students to link new information that is taught to information they already know. I investigated mnemonics effectiveness in my classroom by using two student interviews, a teacher survey, two student surveys and …
A Study Of Written Communication: Showing Your Steps, Megan Kelly
A Study Of Written Communication: Showing Your Steps, Megan Kelly
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my teaching of sixth grade mathematics, I investigated the importance of showing work on daily assignments. I wanted to find out what happens when I ask students to show their work, specifically, whether it would improve students’ grades or not and whether I could help the students to understand the importance of showing their work. I discovered that students need to be shown the proper way to show their work, how to look at a problem and then how to show all of their steps to get to the answer. They need to be …
Increasing Student Confidence And Knowledge Through Student Presentations, Lori Ziemba
Increasing Student Confidence And Knowledge Through Student Presentations, Lori Ziemba
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of a 9th grade Algebra classroom, I investigated the influence of having students present homework solutions and what effect it had on student learning and student confidence. Students were asked to present solutions to homework problems each day and were rated on how well they did. The students were also surveyed about their confidence and feelings about mathematics. Students were also observed for information about who they asked questions of when presented with a math problem they did not understand. In this classroom, two teachers were involved in instruction and this study examines what affect …
An Investigation Into Careless Errors Made By 7th Grade Mathematics Students, Andrea Wiens
An Investigation Into Careless Errors Made By 7th Grade Mathematics Students, Andrea Wiens
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study, I investigated the careless errors made by my seventh-grade mathematics students on their homework and tests. Beyond analyzing the types of careless errors and the frequency at which they were made, I also analyzed my students’ attitudes toward reviewing their work before they turn it in and self-reflection about the quality of work that they were producing. I found that many students did not know how to review their test before turning it in; no one had ever taught them how to do so. However, when students were given tools to help them with this …
Here Is The Plan: So What Is The Question?, Dot Snesrud
Here Is The Plan: So What Is The Question?, Dot Snesrud
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my classroom of 5th grade mathematics students, I investigated their understanding of the mathematical operations by having them write problems to match given equations. I discovered that writing a story to match an equation does provide insight into a student’s understanding of mathematical concepts, however, reading comprehension is a factor in the understanding. Readers who struggle with comprehension do struggle with understanding and writing math story problems. The discussion that follows the writing of a math story problem and the solving of the written problems helps to strengthen the students’ mathematical abilities as well …