Purpose: This study aims to describe how creative thinking ability could be improved through correcting the thinking schemata using cool-critical-creative-meaningful (3CM) learning model. Design/methodology/approach: This study implemented mixed methods with explanatory sequential, which means a study that was conducted by collecting quantitative and qualitative data, consecutively. The creative thinking ability was measured through tests and then triangulated with the student teachers answers in the interviews. The qualitative data consisted of creative thinking schemata that were collected with task analysis and think aloud method. The data were analyzed in two stages. Quantitative data analysis was used to identify the effectiveness of 3CM learning. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using Miles and Huberman's analysis. Findings: The findings presented that 3CM learning model is significantly effective to improve the creative thinking ability of pre-service primary teacher; students with formal, content and linguistic schemata that are good and complete will also have good mathematical creative thinking ability; the mathematical creative thinking ability of student is determined by the completeness of their schemata; and a good and complete schemata (formal, content and linguistic) will help the students to produce several problem-solving alternatives. Research limitations/implications: Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further. Practical implications: The results of this study suggest lecturers to give their students a great opportunity to develop their creativity in solving mathematical problems. Lecturers could give the students the opportunity to think systematically by beginning by criticizing the interesting contextual problems and ending with meaningful reflection with adequate learning resources. Originality/value: 3CM learning model is a model that is proven to be effective in helping the students in shaping the thinking schemata well and able to improve the creative thinking ability of the students.