My Direct Question is: How can I use technology, inquiry, and focused intervention groups to develop a positive math mindset and increase student understanding in the area of mathematics?
The educational context for my Direct Question for our nation, state, district, and school is as follows: National: As a nation, Common Core Standards are leading students to have a deeper understanding of what they are learning through 21st century thinking skills. We are moving away from memorizing information, and moving towards teaching students how to access information and think critically about what they are learning. We are currently preparing our students for jobs that do not yet exist! A research article I am reading is entitled, “Mathematics Awareness through Technology, Teamwork, Engagement, and Rigor” by Lori James. One line that resonated with me was, “Teachers need to be creative through a combination of integrated technology and intervention groups while providing a positive classroom atmosphere where students learn from each other.” This portion of the article holds many goals I hope to achieve throughout the process of answering my Direct Question. I want to integrate technology in a meaningful way that will support student learning and to help develop their critical thinking skills. Intervention groups will be necessary so that I can help individualize instruction. All of this will take place in a positive classroom atmosphere where students can thrive. Lori James goes on to say, “Students can expand on their understanding through productive struggle. When students make mistakes experiencing productive struggle, their brain activity grows because synapse fires making new connections. “ This supports my desire to implement positive math mindset principles into my Driving Question. In order for my students to succeed at developing their inquiry skills in math and raise their test scores, they will need to be able to have productive struggle in an environment where they are comfortable making mistakes in order to continue growing, learning, and developing. All of these 21st century skills, combined with the goal to close the achievement gap, fall in line with where our nation is moving in education. State: The mission statement for the California Department of Education is: “California will provide a world-class education for all students, from early childhood to adulthood. The Department of Education serves our state by innovating and collaborating with educators, schools, parents, and community partners. Together, as a team, we prepare students to live, work, and thrive in a multicultural, multilingual, and highly connected world.” I believe that my Driving Question is in line with California’s goal for education. Focusing on developing a positive math mindset, and increasing student understanding in the area of mathematics, will require my students to collaborate with one another and use 21st century thinking skills. Integrating technology, inquiry, and intervention groups will cause students to use their communication skills, along with critical thinking, which will prepare them for a successful future in our highly connected world. District: Our district would like teachers to focus on implementing 21st century skills in the classroom. This means that students should be answering important questions and mastering important skills in order to have students be able to articulate what they are learning. NVUSD focuses on the “6 Cs”, and how we should be providing plentiful and meaningful opportunities for students to engage in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity, character, and citizenship. The use of technology is a instructional asset and a learning and productivity tool. A research article I am reading is entitled, “In math, Positive Mindset May Prime Students’ Brains” by Sarah Sparks. This article discusses the impact a positive mindset in math has on student understanding. This belief that intelligence or other skills can be continually improved with practice causes students to feel more confident. This mindset ties in to what our district wants us to do as teachers in regard to teaching 21st century skills and increasing student’s abilities to persevere and become lifelong learners. This also ties into the growth mindset principles of AVID, a program that many schools in Napa have implemented. Our school has been trained in AVID Elementary, and I have seen the powerful results of implementing growth mindset principles in the classroom and the impact of intertwining growth mindset principles with academics. Jo Boaler wrote a book entitled, “Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students’ Potential Through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages, and Innovative Teaching.” One chapter is entitled, “Assessment for a Growth Mindset”. In this chapter she discusses the concept of assessment for learning and the importance of helping students know where they are now, where they need to be, and how they can close the gap. This type of assessment is a powerful way to increase student understanding and inquiry skills. School: Currently our school is in an Accelerate Math Partnership with NapaLearns. Through this partnership, we have the opportunity to be coached by experts in the field of Math through Bridges (our core math curriculum). Our site is specifically focusing on the power of inquiry in math. Having students be able to identify different level questions is also a key focus. This school-wide goals clearly aligns with my Driving Question.
3 Comments
Brandon DeJesus
10/1/2018 08:46:36 pm
Teaching students to learn from one another is absolutely a goal of mine. I have a sign in the front of my classroom that has levels of intervention students should go through before they ask me for help; it doesn’t stop students from going to me first. I feel like students can’t have productive struggle because they are too scared to struggle at all. I find that students are simultaneously unwilling to make an attempt and terrified they will be wrong. I look forward to seeing more of your research in hopes that it can address these issues.
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Stephen
10/1/2018 08:58:06 pm
I love that you are doing work around mindset. It's such an important topic not only for students, but ourselves as educators to consider how we approach our daily challenges. I know Julie always talks about failure being a positive for learning, can the challenge of getting this message through to the students.
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Monica Knecht
10/3/2018 01:51:20 pm
Jen, I am so impressed by your blog this week. I seriously love your ideas about growth mindset and where you want to go with it in all areas of your classroom, especially Math. You are a phenomenal teacher and I am learning so many things from you in this Master's. Students that have a great growth mindset in Math will be able to solve any problem and move mountains in life. The work you are doing is admirable. I really enjoy learning some new tech tools with you.
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