A Cooperative Learning Classroom Focus On Students ' Mathematical Thinking

Prior literature targeted the effects of teacher collaboration improving results that improved results on a teacher-level. This study is the first one conducted that shows a correlation between students improving in significant areas of academics when teachers improve their collaboration skills, but further research should be conducted on a larger scale. As a result from this study, it showed that there was an increase in student achievement when there were teacher collaboration, especially in the areas of mathematics and reading (Y. Goddard, R. Goddard, & Tschannen, 2007, p.

Cooperative Learning is a method of teaching and learning in which students work together to explore a significant question or create a meaningful project. In Cooperative Learning, students work together in small groups on a structured activity in order to accomplish shared learning goals. (Abass)

We, teachers, know that the meaning-making process is influenced by the student 's prior understandings, interests, beliefs, how the student learns best, and the student 's attitudes about self and school. If we wish to sustain or increase the academic achievement of our students, they could be grouped for instruction according to ability and achievement levels. I had into account the different levels of knowledge the students demonstrated during the Pre-Tests. After analyzing their outcomes, I decided to form 4 groups in each class for the small group activities.

Knowing that many students struggle with learning math, and struggle with understanding why it is important for them to develop sound math skills, I will be working in collaboration with another math teacher (at a different school either in state or out of state) tracking the Stock Market for a period of three months. The students from both classes with be separated into groups of 4-5 students (2-3 from each school in each group) and they, as a group, will communicate with each other using VOIP in the way of Skype and/or OooVoo, group websites they will have created, and through emails (outside of class communication for homework/personal use). It has been proven time and time again that students working together enable them to, “extend their interaction and learning outside of classroom. Busy schedules and commuting students often make group work difficult to coordinate.

Sustained shared thinking has been recognised as a successful part of children’s mathematical learning in schools and can be adapted for early years settings quite easily. It is a concept where children who are at the same level in maths, use each other to discuss the subject, learn off one another and solve problems together. Children confident in the subject will more readily interact with peers who display a similar standard and confidence and although children learn through direct teaching in the class environment, sustained shared thinking is continued outside of the classroom and should also be supported by

Teaching methods have proven to be even more effective due to grouping. Teachers are able to pinpoint exactly what it is that their students need to work on. For example, “students who were grouped by ability within a class for reading were able to make up an additional “half a year’s growth in reading.” (Olszewski-Kubilius) By identifying exactly what it is students need to work on teachers are able to provide

Understanding the cognitive learning process is something teachers should all know. You are teaching children with the goal for them to remember it and be able to apply it in the future so grasping the concept of how they do this should be important for all educators. In my education courses now I can say that we do often discuss how children learn, what works best and how to cause a better chance for them to remember. For the process to run smoothly and successfully the child has to have information to build off of. Learning is an extending process of what we already know says the book. We can’t introduce a topic that is irrelevant and anything and everything previously done in the class. They can’t make it to the attention and perception stage without common ground. Like you mentioned in the lector students with attention issues can have more trouble. ELL students might have trouble in the process due to lack of english language skills. Knowing the process of cognitive learning allows the teacher to be more aware of the teachings she provides to students. Its the teachers job to be aware of the students skills and knowledge and give them lessons that will feed the cognitive process not hinder it.

Cooperative learning is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for helping teammates learn, thus creating an atmosphere of achievement. Students work through the assignment until all group members successfully understand and complete it. Cooperative efforts result in participants striving for mutual benefit so that all group members: * gain from each other's efforts. (Your success benefits me and my success benefits you.) * recognize that all group members share a common fate. (We all

Cooperative learning should be considered the natural progression of the American education system. Traditional education techniques place students in a competitive atmosphere. Cooperative learning requires students to work together to achieve success. A democratic method for a democratic society. Cooperative learning does not allow for a single winner, instead through group efforts, each student’s strengths help the collective achieve success. This paper will address the history of cooperative learning, along with its social, academic, and teacher benefits. Most importantly, it will highlight the positive effects of cooperative learning techniques upon students of all abilities.

In the growing global society of the 21st century we must prepare our students for a team oriented approach to learning. Cooperative learning allows the development of many different skills in the classroom. As many educators know every student is at different intellectual levels when they enter their classrooms. Cooperative learning allows small groups of students with different abilities to learn from their peers. Through teamwork students learn to appropriately commend others when a task is accomplished. Although, students will be working together for a common goal, each individual student will be responsible for their own work. There are several positive outcomes for students through the use of cooperative learning. In particular, it promotes positive interaction between members of different cultures and socio-economic groups. Additionally, it motivates students to learn new material ensuring student metacognition. To sum up my thoughts about cooperative learning I feel this learning technique offers many benefit’s to students and should be evident in daily learning.

To cite this article: Magnesio, S. & B. Davis. A Teacher Fosters Social Competence With Cooperative Learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing. Kagan Online Magazine, Fall/Winter 2010. www.KaganOnline.com

Understanding cognition and how we learn is essential in the developmental stages of children. Not all students learn in the same way, understanding the cognitive process will assist in the development of the students. By modifying my approach when giving instructions I have noticed growth in current students that I am working with. Using concrete materials and giving the opportunity for students to be involved in hands-on activities on a daily basis, is essential in making new material meaningful to learners.. The knowledge gained from this topic has increased my understanding and is benefiting the children I am currently

A student has the ability to learn without a teacher. However, the Law of the Teaching Process creates the background for a teacher to guide a student on the path to more knowledge. A teacher should establish a safe environment that encourages thinking to help students learn “the unknown by the way of the known” (84). Acquiring their knowledge and increasing their mental power correlates to the aims of a teacher as they guide students. While a teacher is to be passionate in laying out knowledge, the really work of an education, acquiring knowledge, is the work of the student. A student learns by discovery and information stores as the student interprets the new information.

This significance of the these issues are that in order for students to become more successful throughout their math curriculum, they need to work together in a more hands on way, exploring, discovering and solving problems together. This concept is more of an inquiry based learning style, where the teacher’s role is to initiate the student’s interests and ideas that will advance their critical thinking skills. Cooperative

Collaborative learning is a great tool for instructors to motivate their student to work with their peers. It is a challenge for teachers to guide their students to work as a team and allocate them into one group. To form a group is an unnatural process, instructors need to rely on the detail of assignment, the nature of the task, students’ personality and their abilities to form a group. If a teacher fails to examine necessary factors before forming a group, it will experience a conflict or unbalance team and directly affect the work performance (Barkley, et al,