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Creating First Grade Math Learning Materials In The Chinese Immersion Learning Environment, Huishu Jia
Creating First Grade Math Learning Materials In The Chinese Immersion Learning Environment, Huishu Jia
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Math is everywhere in people’s daily lives. It is also a universal subject taught everywhere. Research has demonstrated that math education includes many different components, the most essential mathematical skill for younger learners is to establish their number sense. Students’ math fluency will increase and will develop their math automaticity once they have strong number sense. According to studies, the Mandarin Chinese language helps students effectively master basic mathematical skills due to the uniqueness of the language, such as the pronunciation of each Chinese character, the “base ten” number system, etc. The project involved creating a pacing chart that aligns …
Using Cooperative Groups To Enhance Student Learning In A High School Math Class, Caitlin Mccain
Using Cooperative Groups To Enhance Student Learning In A High School Math Class, Caitlin Mccain
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
There are many ways that teachers can use cooperative learning in their classroom. The literature review found in this capstone dives into the research surrounding cooperative learning, starting with the four theoretical perspectives on cooperative learning identified by Slavin (1995, as cited by Slavin, 2011) and how they work together to enhance learning. Also discussed is a 2003 study by Kramarski and Mevarech which demonstrates the need to expose students to metacognitive training. Liljedahl et al.’s (2021) research on how to group students can also be found in this capstone. The research from this literature review, along with the author’s …
How To Design And Implement A Maker Space In The K-3 Classroom, Elizabeth Nelson
How To Design And Implement A Maker Space In The K-3 Classroom, Elizabeth Nelson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
A maker space is an area designated to be used by participants to make a product through a hands-on experience. While the term maker space is relatively new to education, ‘making’ is embedded into human history. The research on these spaces relies on the importance of the maker space for a student's social-emotional well-being. Creative hands-on work specifically for children from low-income backgrounds supports the student in their primary years. At the same time, there needs to be more evidence in the research that proves how effective these spaces are in supporting students' academics. The topics explored in the literature …
Trauma-Informed Mathematics: Using Portfolios To Promote Reflection And Resilience, Ethan Somes
Trauma-Informed Mathematics: Using Portfolios To Promote Reflection And Resilience, Ethan Somes
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Mathematics has a reputation for being abstract, complex, and for many, incomprehensible. In schools, it is common for students to dislike math and to feel self-conscious about their abilities or performance. The typical structure of math assessments, namely tests that are time constricted and highly stressful, creates a cycle of poor performance, disengagement, and high anxiety. This suggests that a new way of assessing students is needed, one that shows the fuller picture of students' math capabilities. This leads to the research question: how can the use of portfolios in math class help students begin to heal from trauma or …
Unlocking Math Minds: Using Inquiry-Based Instruction To Increase Student Engagement And Learning In A Third Grade Classroom, Eric Swendseid
Unlocking Math Minds: Using Inquiry-Based Instruction To Increase Student Engagement And Learning In A Third Grade Classroom, Eric Swendseid
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This paper and supporting website include research and strategies to answer the research question, How can the implementation of inquiry-based math instruction increase student engagement and learning success in a third grade classroom? Inquiry-based learning is a process where the students are involved in their learning. The classroom is student-centered, not teacher-centered. Using the student-centered or inquiry-based approach, students do not learn through transmission. Instead, they collect information and synthesize the information they find through critical thinking skills. The learning process is considered to be higher-order learning. The research presented in this paper focuses on guided inquiry within a mathematics …
Supplementing Math Instruction In The Elementary Classroom With Cognitively Guided Instruction (Cgi), Wai Yang
Supplementing Math Instruction In The Elementary Classroom With Cognitively Guided Instruction (Cgi), Wai Yang
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Education in the United States has long used the traditional written algorithm for math. In other countries around the world with high student achievement on international math assessments, different approaches to math instruction are taken. Cognitively guided instruction (CGI) in math is one of the alternative approaches to teaching math in American classrooms. Teachers may sometimes avoid implementing different math instruction approaches in their profession. This capstone sought to answer the research question, How can cognitively guided instruction (CGI) in math supplement current math in the elementary classroom? The result is a collection of nine lessons that address the research …
Teaching Growth Mindset In A Secondary Mathematics Classroom, Katherine Sneider
Teaching Growth Mindset In A Secondary Mathematics Classroom, Katherine Sneider
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Carol Dweck’s research in fixed and growth mindsets has garnered attention in mathematics education, especially as the frustration of students of mathematics becomes more apparent with new or more difficult content. The literature review and subsequent project seeks to answer the question: How can teaching high school students about growth mindset affect their attitudes toward mathematics learning and academic achievement? Research demonstrates that students with a growth mindset perform better academically than students with a fixed mindset. While these mindsets may be more inherent in nature, students have the potential to develop a growth mindset through classroom learning and skill …
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 …
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 …
Writing In The Math Classroom In Order To Increase The Academic Proficiency In English Language Learners, Daniel Bahnaman
Writing In The Math Classroom In Order To Increase The Academic Proficiency In English Language Learners, Daniel Bahnaman
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
learners. These students specifically struggle with mathematics, as it relies heavily on specific academic language that is constantly being scaffolded. Research has shown that writing in the mathematics classroom can assist English language learners develop academic vocabulary and therefore increase proficiency. This capstone project focuses on the research question: How can writing in the math classroom increase the academic language and proficiency in a classroom of 80% English language learners? The project gives an introduction into implementing writing in the middle school math classroom by providing a one-week introduction to journaling, a two-week eighth-grade curriculum with added writing pieces, and …
Number Talks For Multilingual Learners, Catherine Neuner
Number Talks For Multilingual Learners, Catherine Neuner
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Educators know that profound learning occurs when students are able to make meaningful connections and engage in academic discourse with their teachers and peers (Kazemi & Hintz, 2014; Moschkovich, 1999; Zwiers, 2008). We know that success in mathematics depends upon a strong foundation of number sense (Boaler, 2015). An interest in synthesising the most promising practices for language acquisition and the most promising practices for mathematics instruction led to the research question: How can Number Talks affect academic achievement and language development of fourth grade multilingual learners? The purpose of this project was to incorporate Number Talks into the fourth …
Inquiry-Based Learning And Growth Mindset In Third Grade Mathematics, Katherine Klein
Inquiry-Based Learning And Growth Mindset In Third Grade Mathematics, Katherine Klein
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question investigated in this project was: How can inquiry-based learning in Elementary mathematics help create a growth mindset? The negative experiences with learning and teaching mathematics led her to research teaching strategies to help students and teachers have a growth mindset in the math classroom. The research showed how inquiry-based learning can be successful in math classrooms, and have an impact on student’s math mindsets. It also showed that teachers have an impact on students' growth versus fixed mindsets, therefore it is important to teach in ways that help students have a positive relationship with math. The author …
English Language Learners Acquiring Tier 3 Mathematical Vocabulary In Upper Elementary Grades, Krosby Kludt
English Language Learners Acquiring Tier 3 Mathematical Vocabulary In Upper Elementary Grades, Krosby Kludt
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
As students progress through elementary school the mathematics they are supposed to be able to complete and understand gets more challenging. Part of the challenge is that students need to know the content-specific vocabulary for individual math units. For some students, the new vocabulary has been heard in passing at home, for others, especially those that English is a second language the new vocabulary is completely foreign to them. The capstone project that has been created is a vocabulary guide to help students and educators understand how to best approach new and unfamiliar vocabulary in mathematics for English language learners …
Making The Language Of Secondary Math Classrooms More Comprehensible For English Learners, Anna Olivia Zieske
Making The Language Of Secondary Math Classrooms More Comprehensible For English Learners, Anna Olivia Zieske
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Zieske, A. Making the Language of Secondary Math Classrooms More Comprehensible for English Learners (2020) English Learners (ELs) typically score lower than native English speakers on standardized tests in mathematics partially because many math teachers are not equipped to provide language scaffolds for ELs in mainstream math classes. This project is a supplemental curriculum covering the topic of linear equations and graphing lines that can be used in any mainstream algebra 1 class. It is aligned with the 2007 Minnesota Academic Standards for Mathematics. The project consists of eight activities, both teacher and student versions, that provide language supports for …
Implementation Of Number Talks To Support Number Sense And Fluency, Including Automaticity, Janel Koenig
Implementation Of Number Talks To Support Number Sense And Fluency, Including Automaticity, Janel Koenig
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Current mathematical teaching practices and tasks are evolving to support a comprehensive and flexible understanding of mathematical concepts. This capstone examines current literature to answer the essential question, How can implementation of Number Talks support elements of number sense and fluency, including automaticity, for elementary students ? Literature concludes that building strong foundations in number sense, fluency, and automaticity is necessary to support continued development and success in higher-level mathematics. A further analysis of the pedagogical practice of Number Talks correlates this practice to these three core components of mathematical knowledge. The capstone project developed from this research incorporates visual …
Using Technology To Provide Students With Authentic Learning Opportunities In The Elementary Classroom, Valeria Tschida
Using Technology To Provide Students With Authentic Learning Opportunities In The Elementary Classroom, Valeria Tschida
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The concept of authentic learning has been in the world of education since the ’80s. The inclusion of technology in the ‘90s made it possible to expand the notions of authenticity and relate the work in the classroom to the world outside of it. The use of technology as a tool to provide students with authentic learning opportunities in the elementary classroom is the purpose of this capstone project. The theories of relevant and authentic learning by Daggett have laid the groundwork for the project and guide the creation of the project. The literature suggests that students that are engaged …
The Impact Of Feedback On Learning And Mindset For Female Students In Mathematics Using Comments To Improve Mindset And Learning In Math: A Professional Development Workshop, Elizabeth Christenson
The Impact Of Feedback On Learning And Mindset For Female Students In Mathematics Using Comments To Improve Mindset And Learning In Math: A Professional Development Workshop, Elizabeth Christenson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research shows that the type of feedback given on math assessments can impact the learning and mindset of students. This is especially important for girls since fewer girls study higher level math even though they have the same capability for math as boys. Using comments instead of grades can improve mindset and give students the information they need to improve their learning. This project was strongly influenced by the work of Jo Boaler and Carol Dweck. In order to share this information with teachers and to provide support in developing the skill of giving comment feedback a set of professional …
Components Necessary To Create A Flipped Model Of Instruction For Accelerating 4th-8th Grade Gifted/Talented Students, Samantha Boyd
Components Necessary To Create A Flipped Model Of Instruction For Accelerating 4th-8th Grade Gifted/Talented Students, Samantha Boyd
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research demonstrates that gifted students need to have the option for content acceleration for their intellectual needs, this is especially true for mathematics. The curriculum designed for this project uses the Understanding by Design curriculum planning model, in order to help gifted/talented students accelerate through the pre-algebra (7th grade MN math standards) using a compacting and flipped model of instruction. Gifted and talented students can be identified through many facets, and be identified with a variety of different areas for giftedness. These students who are gifted may need acceleration in order to best meet their academic needs as a …
How Culturally Responsive Teaching Can Support Small Group Math Instruction, Ryan Moran
How Culturally Responsive Teaching Can Support Small Group Math Instruction, Ryan Moran
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
For this project, the author studied culturally responsive teaching methods and mathematics instruction strategies applicable to teaching fractions to third grade English Learners (ELs) in a small group. Throughout his career as an educator, the author consistently observed the need for additional EL math support . Therefore, the guiding question addressed by the author’s capstone project is How can culturally responsive mathematics strategies be implemented in a small-group EL setting? The research conducted in this project was used to create a 10-day, small-group fraction curriculum designed for third grade ELs.
Strategies To Enhance The Positive Effects Of Bilingualism, Danielle Mcmillan
Strategies To Enhance The Positive Effects Of Bilingualism, Danielle Mcmillan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Supporting bilingual students is critical not only for the bilingual students but also for monolingual students. Prominent bilingualism in the classroom can translate to higher test scores, increased engagement, and long-term impacts on brain agility. This capstone project seeks to answer the question: What strategies are available to educators to enhance the positive effects of bilingualism in their students? The final result of this project is a website which includes a series of strategies focused on the four domains of language which seeks to meet the educational needs of both bilingual and mainstream students. The website includes a description of …