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1) Develop collaborative partnerships with math/science teachers in target schools for lesson design and coordination linking lesson content in both areas allowing more embedded math concepts utilized in context with the science investigations, adding depth, relevance, and making them more connected to real-world applications. This would require teacher training on how to identify complementary content and objectives, develop STEM lessons and projects that overlap, and create a scope and sequence for topic presentation. This kind of collaboration is talked about a lot, but in our experience, is rarely seen on the school level. It would require the buy-in of the administration at the school, and teachers would have to be given tremendous support to make it work. They are not used to planning and presenting content in this way. It may even work to have a two-hour block where the two content teachers (math & science) work with the same group of kids flowing in and out of content instruction. The goal is to add relevance to the math instruction, creating an interest, excitement and higher level of engagement, while allowing them to practice math skills more than once and with higher levels of cognition.
2) Create a multi-tiered “Growth Mindset” focus for a school providing teachers, parents, and students instruction on the mindset theory, creating learning environments that promote growth mindset, a survey of resources for teaching and/or supporting growth mindset, and teaching kids that they can grow their intelligence and capacity for learning through embracing failure and challenge and developing perseverance. By hitting all three groups – teachers, parents, and students – the residual effect may be much greater. To our knowledge, this has not been done in any school in our area.
3) Looking at individual assessments in early 5th and early 6th grade and providing targeted instruction and opportunities for filling in gaps and revisiting weak areas before moving on to new content. The goal would be to strengthen weak areas by presenting content in a different way, since they didn’t “get it” the first time around. If they get behind in 5th grade and do not master the basics before entering middle school, they aren’t likely to master 6th grade content.
Credit: Kathy Brandon, Starbase LouisianaI found a webinar archived about Growth Mindset. I think what I’ll do is make a table with the suggestions from the committee and a link/information about the method. Just for everyone’s information. I can post it on our COP site.
https://ngcproject.org/the-importance-of-a-growth-mindset-action-steps-for-educators
Thanks to Louis Papai and Dr. Esperanza Zenon
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