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Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
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Summarization In Math Class, Scott Eckman
Summarization In Math Class, Scott Eckman
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
This action research study of twenty students in my sixth grade mathematics classroom examines the implementation of summarization strategies. Students were taught how to summarize concepts and how to explain their thinking in different ways to the teacher and their peers. Through analysis of students’ summaries of concepts from lessons that I taught, tests scores, and student journals and interviews, I discovered that summarizing mathematical concepts offers students an engaging opportunity to better understand those concepts and render that understanding more visible to the teacher. This analysis suggests that non-traditional summarization, such as verbal and written strategies, and strategies involving …
Five Processes Of Mathematical Thinking, Toni Scusa
Five Processes Of Mathematical Thinking, Toni Scusa
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
My research project was to investigate key processes of mathematical thinking in my seventh grade mathematics classroom. Its purpose was to see whether I could affect the quality of student mathematical thinking and solution writing by teaching students five key processes of mathematical thinking I had identified, and by providing students with opportunities to evaluate sample student solutions using traits describing these processes. Every two weeks, students attempted solutions for a given problem and rated their work according to the specific characteristics identified as key to mathematical thinking. Every other week I gave the class sample student work at varied …
A Study Of The Summarization Of Word Problems, Tara Schwanebeck
A Study Of The Summarization Of Word Problems, Tara Schwanebeck
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
This action research investigates my sixth grade mathematics students’ ability to solve word problems after instruction and practice using a specific word problem summarization worksheet. The worksheet was designed to break down word problems into smaller parts, helping students comprehend them and, in turn, find success that would enhance their confidence and ability to successfully solve word problems. The worksheets each had a different type of word problem, such as one-step, hidden information, or extra information. The final worksheet consisted of a mixed review of each type of word problem previously practiced in class. Using different types of data collection …
Precise Mathematical Language: Exploring The Relationship Between Student Vocabulary Understanding And Student Achievement, Jill Kranda
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my classroom of fifth grade mathematics, I investigate the relationship between student understanding of precise mathematics vocabulary and student achievement in mathematics. Specifically, I focused on students’ understanding of written mathematics problems and on their ability to use precise mathematical language in their written solutions of critical thinking problems. I discovered that students are resistant to change; they prefer to do what comes naturally to them. Since they have not been previously taught to use precise mathematical language in their communication about math, they have great difficulty in adapting to this new requirement. However, …
Improving Communication About Mathematics Through Vocabulary And Writing, Kelly Georgius
Improving Communication About Mathematics Through Vocabulary And Writing, Kelly Georgius
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study, where the subjects were my 6th grade mathematics students, I investigated the impact of direct vocabulary instruction on their communication and achievement. I strategically implemented the addition of vocabulary study into each lesson over a four-month time period. The students practiced using vocabulary in verbal discussions, review activities, and in mathematical problem explanations. I discovered that a majority of students improved their overall understanding of mathematical concepts based on an analysis of the data I collected. I also found that in general, students felt that knowing the definition of mathematical words was important and that …
Vocabulary Instruction As A Tool For Helping Students Of Diverse Backgrounds And Ability Levels To Understand Mathematical Concepts, Joan Brethouwer
Vocabulary Instruction As A Tool For Helping Students Of Diverse Backgrounds And Ability Levels To Understand Mathematical Concepts, Joan Brethouwer
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
This action research project describes a research project designed and implemented specifically with an emphasis on the instruction of mathematical vocabulary. The targeted population was my second period classroom of sixth grade students. This group of seventeen students represented diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities. The school is located in a community of a population of approximately 5,000 people in the Midwest. My research investigation focused on the use of specific methods of vocabulary instruction and students’ use of precise mathematical vocabulary in writing and speaking. I wanted to see what effects these strategies would have on student performance. My research …
Strategies And Precise Vocabulary Knowledge: Exploring The Relationships Among Mathematics Vocabulary, Problem Solving, And Confidence, Deb Borgelt
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study I focused on my eighth grade pre-algebra students’ abilities to attack problems with enthusiasm and self confidence whether they completely understand the concepts or not. I wanted to teach them specific strategies and introduce and use precise vocabulary as a part of the problem solving process in hopes that I would see students’ confidence improve as they worked with mathematics. I used non-routine problems and concept-related open-ended problems to teach and model problem solving strategies. I introduced and practiced communication with specific and precise vocabulary with the goal of increasing student confidence and lowering student …
Attitudes, Confidence, And Achievement Of High-Ability Fifth Grade Math Students, Bradley D. Piper
Attitudes, Confidence, And Achievement Of High-Ability Fifth Grade Math Students, Bradley D. Piper
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of my fifth grade high-ability mathematics class, I investigated student attitudes of mathematics and their confidence in mathematics. Student achievement was compared to two different confidence scales to identify a relationship between confidence and achievement. Six boys and eleven girls gave their consent to the study. I discovered there seems to be a connection between confidence and achievement and that boys are generally more confident than girls. Most students liked math and were comfortable sharing answers and methods of solving problems with other students. As a result of this study I plan to use my …
Mathematical Communication Within A Daily Small-Group Learning Environment, Amy L. Wilson
Mathematical Communication Within A Daily Small-Group Learning Environment, Amy L. Wilson
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of a fifth grade mathematics classroom, I investigate how a daily small-group learning environment influenced students’ ability to communicate their mathematical thinking in verbal and written form. I discovered that a small-group atmosphere provided more opportunities for direct instruction. I also found that the emphasis on communication helped students to articulate their thinking more clearly when they wrote and spoke of their mathematical ideas. Most students preferred to work in small groups because they appreciated the support of their peers. Students felt they were more likely to ask teammates for help when they had questions …
Journal Writing In Mathematics: Exploring The Connections Between Math Journals And The Completion Of Homework Assignments, Cara Walz
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of sixth grade mathematics, I investigate how the use of written journals facilitates the learning of mathematics for my students. I explore furthermore whether or not these writing journals support students to complete their homework. My analysis reveals that while students do not access their journals daily, when students have the opportunity to write more about one specific problem--such as finding the relationship between the area of two different sized rectangles – they, are nevertheless, more likely to explain their thoughts in-depth and go beyond the traditional basic steps to arrive at a solution. This …
Writing Relevant Word Problems: Seeking To Increase Student Mathematical Achievement, Amanda Stark
Writing Relevant Word Problems: Seeking To Increase Student Mathematical Achievement, Amanda Stark
Departament of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Master's of Arts in Teaching, Summative Projects
In this action research study of eighth grade mathematics, I investigated my students’ use of writing and solving word problems. I collected data to determine if writing and solving word problems would have a positive effect on students’ abilities to understand and solve word problems. These word problems are grade-level appropriate and are very similar to the problems on the eighth grade online assessment of state standards. Pre- and post-test data, weekly word problems that focus on specific mathematics topics, beginning and end surveys about word problem perceptions, and a teacher journal reveal that student engagement in this weekly practice …