"Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world."
-Nelson Mandela
Differentiated Instruction Through Math Centers
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This year, my second as a high school math teacher, I have upped my game to increase student achievement and success. I have integrated a rotational model for my students encompassing of three math centers: Direct Instruction, Collaboration & Independent. The materials and assignments at each center are also tailored to include various levels for students to have choice in their work and to decide how much of a challenge they are prepared to take on! Through this innovative model, I have strategically grouped my students in order to provide small group instruction, which is tailored to student needs. I generally include 6-12 students in each group so this model allows for extremely differentiated instruction, in which I can slow down or speed up the content and material and go further in depth or review previous material for my students. I would attribute much of my student's level of success this year to this new differentiated approach in my classroom! For example, last year my second benchmark scores averaged 6% proficient or advanced, while this year I have increased student achievement to 35% proficient or advanced!
Openly Discussing Educational Inequity.
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As an educator in a low-income community, I know that it is important to not hide the disparities and inequities from my students or their families. Instead, we need to lay these issues out on the table, discuss them openly, and come up with solutions together. Because of this, I organized and led the charge of an Achievement Gap Night at my high school. I enlisted several colleagues, got the principal on board, and with help from some extremely knowledgeable TFA staff members, put on a successful and educational night for parents and students at our school.
The turn-out was amazing. We held one English presentation and three overflowing rooms in Spanish. We discussed inequity through the lens of our community, made some tough comparisons with surrounding high-income communities and then got down into moving forward. Every student and parent left the meeting with personal visions they wrote for the students, such as what they wanted to see their student accomplish in life and how he or she would not become a statistic.
This powerful night was a great opportunity for starting these conversations at our school, increasing community knowledge and action around the achievement gap, and increasing the culture of achievement at our high school. I hope to continue to educate our students, our families and all of the public about the inequity in education in our country, which is holding us back from success and true prosperity and happiness.
The turn-out was amazing. We held one English presentation and three overflowing rooms in Spanish. We discussed inequity through the lens of our community, made some tough comparisons with surrounding high-income communities and then got down into moving forward. Every student and parent left the meeting with personal visions they wrote for the students, such as what they wanted to see their student accomplish in life and how he or she would not become a statistic.
This powerful night was a great opportunity for starting these conversations at our school, increasing community knowledge and action around the achievement gap, and increasing the culture of achievement at our high school. I hope to continue to educate our students, our families and all of the public about the inequity in education in our country, which is holding us back from success and true prosperity and happiness.
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pagnight-final.pdf | |
File Size: | 4915 kb |
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CST Superhero Review!
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To improve investment and excitement for the build up to the California State Test, I created a Superhero CST review unit. All of my students designed their own superheroes and they win superpowers for every standard they master! I'm very pleased with how my students' energy is building as they earn their powers. I find that my students love learning when it connects to something they enjoy outside of school, that is why I asked them give me ideas and vote on the theme.
Making Connections to Deepen Understanding.
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Nearing the end of each unit, I assign my students a mind map. We dedicate about 1 hour in class so students can be creative and think critically about the concepts we have learned. They add examples, pictures and most importantly, connect concepts throughout the unit and to previous material and content. Mind maps are an amazing educational tool that I have seen really help my students deepen their understanding of material.
Below is a sample lesson plan from my Algebra II Class.
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Logarithms Lesson Plan | |
File Size: | 66 kb |
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