Cognitive Strategy Instruction as it relates to teaching math to Research Paper

Cognitive Strategy Instruction as it relates to teaching math to adolescents, specifically those with mild learning disabilities - Research Paper Example In addition, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics of 2000 backs offering all the youths equal access to the concepts of mathematics (Montague & Jitendra, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the cognitive strategy instruction as it relates to teaching math to adolescent students with mild learning disabilities. Students with mild learning disabilities generally often have difficulties in achieving the standards of academic content and excelling in the assessments. Particularly, students with mild learning disabilities usually have difficulties with algebraic reasoning, mathematics basic skills, and problem solving skills. Majority of these students struggle with the means of approaching mathematics problems, carrying out selected plans, and making effective decisions. An effective approach to aid adolescent students with mild learning disabilities in accessing challenging concepts of mathematics is to offer strategy instruction (Montague & Jitendra, 2009). This p aper therefore defines cognitive strategy instructions, identifies significant features of effective cognitive strategies, and identifies key contents necessary for instructing adolescent students with mild learning disabilities in the use of the cognitive strategy.... of the required actions and consists of essential rules and guidelines that are related to making effective decisions during the process of solving problems. Some of the features of cognitive strategy instruction that make such strategies effective for adolescent students with mild learning disabilities include: devices of memory that help the students master the strategy; steps of the strategy using common words and are stated concisely and simply beginning with action verbs in order to enhance involvement and participation of students; steps of strategy are appropriately sequenced and lead to the intended outcome; steps of the strategy using prompts in order to get students apply their cognitive abilities; and metacognitive strategies using prompts in order to monitor performance of problem solving (Ruya, 2009). There are various such cognitive strategy instructions such as evidence based practice and STAR as will be explained in this paper. These cognitive strategy instructions ar e instructional methods that have been applied in multiple tasks in the academics, and have previously provided a way for educators to facilitate student independence competence across secondary, elementary and post secondary settings. Cognitive strategy instruction entails a strong base of evidence and employs systematic and explicit procedures of instructions that have extensively been validated and can be used flexibly. Cognitive strategy instruction as an instructional approach emphasizes the development of processes and skills of thinking as a way to promote learning. For example, the evidence based practice strategy enables students with mild learning disabilities to learn spelling words initially unknown to them and allow them to use techniques of self correction. Cognitive strategy

Causes and Effects of European Exploration Research Paper

Causes and Effects of European Exploration - Research Paper Example All the European nations had almost similar desires for these explorations, of which they struggled to accomplish. This exploration also had some impacts which came as a result of it. Some of the causes and effects are further discussed in the paper. The causes were as follows: the desire to find new trade routes, need of more resources, and search for more knowledge, the desire of the emperor expansion and the spread of Christianity. As a result of the exploration several things happened. Some of the impacts were: discovery of new trade routes, establishment of the line of demarcation, the spread of Christianity, the extinction of the natives, introduction of slavery, the ignition of rivalry, the establishment of the triangular trade route, the Columbian exchange and the capitalism rise. These causes and effects will be discussed further in this paper together with their importance in the study of history. Causes â€Å"Great discoveries in transportation, navigation, and communicat ion of the Scientific Revolution during and after the European Rennaissance (late 1400s- early 1500s) led to the thirst for adventure and exploration† (Bentely, Jerry, and Herbert, 2008, p.97). ... In the 1400s, refrigeration had not been discovered, so people were using salt to preserve foods like meat and other perishable food products. Therefore, they required more spices to neutralize the salty food and to minimize the bad taste of the meat that was almost going bad. â€Å"The spices and exotic items serve to whet the appetites of the European communities and arouse a great demand for much more of the same,† (Koch, 2003, p. 68). These spices were only excised in Asia that is why; these European needed an easy route to Asia. Before, the only route was through the mountains across Turkey which had become too difficult due to the hostile Turkish Empire. The prizes of these spices had risen, and the nation that could find a way of bringing these spices to Europe, would generate a lot of income and become so powerful in the region. The desire to get this possible sea route was a common aim in almost all European nations. One of the major explorations is the Christopher Co lumbus famous voyage to the new world. The voyage started from Palos Spain in the year 1497 in which they were in search of route to Asia to get these spices. Instead, they came across a new land, the land of America. After some time, other voyages followed Columbus. At first, they thought this new land was just a little land, but with time they discovered that America had valuable resources. Vasco da Gamer later made it to Asia through sea and from then, the European got an easy sea route to Asia. The other cause of the exploration was the need of the growing power and wealth within the European nations. The European nations fought many wars; they fought against themselves and also against the Empire of Turkey. During these wars, they used a lot of