Graduate Student Research Symposium 2025

This research study investigates teacher practices that foster critical thinking (CT) and problem-solving (PS) skills in a kindergarten mathematics classroom. The study focuses on how integrating specific math programs and practices influences students’ ability to problem-solve and think critically independently. Data was collected through observations of Building Thinking Classroom (BTC) activities, the iReady Math program, and student work samples from 16 kindergarten general education students. The findings will analyze the impact of inquiry-based learning, teacher-student questioning, open class discussions, and real-world math applications on the development of CT and PS. The goal is to inform educators on effective strategies to cultivate essential complex thinking skills in early childhood education.