Presenter: Diann Phillips Ash,

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Promoting Critical Thinking in the Mathematics
Classroom

• Presenter Diann Phillips Ash,
• Coordinator of Mathematics

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In-Service Goals

• To provide ten researched based strategies for
  helping students develop critical thinking.
• To engage faculty in examples of critical
  thinking activities
• To engage participants in developing an action
  plan for integrating critical thinking strategies
  into their instruction
• To review and share critical thinking resources
• To provide calendar update, entertain questions
  and concerns from participants, and plan a
  follow-up session

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What Research Says About Critical Thinking
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Strategy I Engage Students and Facilitate
Classroom Inquiry

• Providing students with learning opportunities
  which actively engage them in the learning
  process
• Spend less time showing and telling student about
  mathematics
• Select activities that are students-focused and
  promote inquiry

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Strategy 2 Teach and Question to the Three
Upper Levels of Blooms

• AnalysisSynthesis---- Evaluation
• Ask probing, redirecting, and reinforcing
  questions
• Provide wait time during classroom questioning

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Strategy 3 Provide Instruction in a Variety
of Specific Thinking, Study, and Metacognitive
Skills

• Teach students note taking and study skills as
  part of instruction.
• Help them understand and gauge how they are
  thinking about and learning mathematics by
  providing opportunities to communicate
  mathematically (Writing, Speaking, Reading and
  Mental Computation).

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Strategy 4 Differentiate Instruction to Meet
the Needs of Diverse Learners

• ContentActivityProduct
• One-Size Does not Fit All
• Children come in all sizes, shape, and abilities
• Readiness
• Interests
• Learning Styles

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Strategy 5 Use Technology to Enhance Critical
Thinking

• Calculators
• Computers
• Software Programs
• Power Point
• Computer Mathematics Games
• On-line Assessments
• Active/White Boards

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Strategy 6 Use Flexible Grouping During
Instruction

• TAPS Total, Alone, Pairs, Small groups
• Group by Readiness, Interest, Learning styles.
• Utilize Homogeneous and Heterogeneous groups.
• Avoid Tracking.
• When in Doubt, Teach Up!
• Make the most of Cooperative Groups by rotating
  the roles among all member of the group.

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Strategy 7 Utilize Best Practices in Content
Pedagogy

• Opportunity to Learn Student mathematics
  achievement is directly affected by the extent of
  the students' opportunity to learn.
• Focus on Meaning When instruction is focused on
  meaningful development of important mathematical
  ideas student learning is increased.
• Learning New Concepts and Skills While Solving
  Problem Students can learn both concepts and
  skills through problem solving opportunities for
  both  Invention and Practice. Openness to Student
  Solution  Methods and Student Interaction
  Incorporating students' intuitive solution
  methods in teaching, combined with opportunities
  for discussion and interaction can increase

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Strategy 7 Continued

• Small-Group Learning Using small groups of
  students to work on activities, problems, and
  assignments can increase achievement.
• Whole-Class Discussion Whole-class discussion
  following group work improves achievement.
• Number Sense A focus on number sense encourages
  students to become problem solvers and view
  mathematics as a place where thinking is
  important.
• Concrete Materials (Manipulatives) Long-term
  use of concrete materials is related to improved
  math achievement and improved attitudes toward
  math.
• (Ideas taken from Improving Student Achievement
  in Mathematics )

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Strategy 8 Use Balanced Assessment to Guide
Instruction

• Incorporate a variety of ways to assess student
  performance, skills, and understanding of
  mathematics concepts.
• Multiple Choice, Constructed Response
  Performance Tasks Rubrics Projects, Products,
  On-line Testing, Pencil Paper, Portfolios etc,.
• Use the results of assessment to gauge
  instruction and inform professional learning
  needs.

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Strategy 9 Connect Learning to the Real World
Problem Situations

• Engaging students in routine and non-routine
  problem solving situations builds critical
  thinking, content, and process skills in
  mathematics.
• Students are more apt to learn mathematics
  content if they can related to it realistically.
• Problem solving is the lifeblood of mathematics.

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Strategy 10 Engage Students In Mathematical
Competitions and Contest Bowls

• Students improve critical thinking though
  involvement in mathematics contests and problem
  solving bowls.
• Mathematics contests and bowls demand higher
  level thinking and reasoning skills.
• Student learn to compute mentally, reduce
  response time, and work collaboratively.
• Competitive Spirits can be a good thing.

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Focusing On Student Success
Atlanta Public Schools