Term
Summer 2021
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAEd
Facilitator(s)
Jana Lo Bello Miller
Content Expert
Zachary Gonsioroski
Abstract
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 basis of any successful mathematics curriculum. I created 12 lessons to be used during a division unit that embeds the best practices I found during my literature review. Since a balanced approach to instruction is best, my lessons cater to both direct instruction and inquiry within each lesson. I teach 4th grade, and wanted to focus on division because it tends to be one of the more challenging topics covered. The first part of our division unit is basic division, so I chose to focus on the latter part of the unit, building fluency with different division strategies. The lessons are designed using the workshop model format, have openers, mini lessons, independent practice, and closers.
Project Type
Curriculum
Keywords
Curriculum, Mathematics, Teachers/ Teaching
Recommended Citation
Prostrollo, Christine, "Fostering Critical Thinking Skills, and Engagement to Produce Better Retention of 4th Grade Math" (2021). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 706.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/706
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects