Using Problem Solving to Teach Metacognition in the Sixth Grade Mathematics Classroom

Schoenfeld (1985) demonstrated that students with higher metacognitive skills perform better in problem solving. Ozsoy and Ataman (2009) showed that metacognitive skills can be taught and learned. Learning metacognitive skills to help 6th grade mathematics students perform better in problem solving was examined. This action research project examined if 6th grade mathematics students reported increased use of self-questioning, a certain metacognitive skill, after completing formative math tasks and post-task surveys. It also determined if students report a relationship between increased use of self-questioning and increased use of problem-solving skills.