Incorporating Student’s Cultures in a Geometry Classroom

Presenter and Advisor Information

Paul Zunkel, Illinois Wesleyan University

Major

Mathematics

Second Major

Educational Studies

Submission Type

Poster

Area of Study or Work

Educational Studies

Faculty Advisor

Leah Nillas

Location

CNS Atrium

Start Date

4-12-2025 8:30 AM

End Date

4-12-2025 9:30 AM

Abstract

Current research studies on student engagement and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP), has revealed a positive connection between classroom engagement and academic success in Geometry and Algebra classes. Conducting lesson studies helped to investigate how teachers can engage students learning in mathematics when including the student's cultural background. According to Ladson-Billings (1995), CRP refers to the cultural teaching methods towards students and their backgrounds. While using CRP in the classrooms, a teacher measured three types of engagement, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional. Pham and Chau (2023), refer to behavioral engagement as the participation and attentiveness within the classroom. In this classroom research data consisted of ten lessons taught tying in the students’ background and collecting their mathematics work after each lesson. Analysis of data showed benefits to the different types of student engagement while including their cultural backgrounds. The findings of the study provided useful insight to the student teacher about different teaching methods to foster inclusion in the classroom. These findings are vital to the educational field as it helps challenge social justice issues and inequities we see everyday.

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Apr 12th, 8:30 AM Apr 12th, 9:30 AM

Incorporating Student’s Cultures in a Geometry Classroom

CNS Atrium

Current research studies on student engagement and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP), has revealed a positive connection between classroom engagement and academic success in Geometry and Algebra classes. Conducting lesson studies helped to investigate how teachers can engage students learning in mathematics when including the student's cultural background. According to Ladson-Billings (1995), CRP refers to the cultural teaching methods towards students and their backgrounds. While using CRP in the classrooms, a teacher measured three types of engagement, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional. Pham and Chau (2023), refer to behavioral engagement as the participation and attentiveness within the classroom. In this classroom research data consisted of ten lessons taught tying in the students’ background and collecting their mathematics work after each lesson. Analysis of data showed benefits to the different types of student engagement while including their cultural backgrounds. The findings of the study provided useful insight to the student teacher about different teaching methods to foster inclusion in the classroom. These findings are vital to the educational field as it helps challenge social justice issues and inequities we see everyday.