Summary and Synthesis

The past few weeks in Math Methods we have focused on the improving students math skills by concentrating on the development of critical thinking skills, meta cognitive thinking, and National Content Standards. Critical thinking skills are important to develop, this skill forces the student to use prior knowledge to solve problems. Problem solving is a key component of critical thinking and George Polya's four steps to problem solving could be used as a model for students struggling with problem solving skills. If students are able to think about the way they think and improve their meta cognitive thinking problem solving and overall math skills can be enhanced.
As a future teacher it is important I understand the standards I and my students will be assessed on. Standards are put in place to make sure students are achieving at similar rates. The new Common Core Standards are valuable to teachers because they are well written and each teacher will now be preparing their lessons based on the same set of standards. As we saw on the first day it is important the United States improves math skills at an early age. The national standards put in place are more detailed and make it easier for teacher to prepare lessons that fit the standards and improve student learning.