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Literacy and Math Tools: Educators Weigh In. Research for Action Kate Shaw, Ph.D. Felicia Sanders, Ph.D. GMMB Jacquie Lawing Ebert, Partner. Common Core State Standards: Where Are We?. Most teachers and even more principals are closely following their state’s effort
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Literacy and Math Tools: Educators Weigh In Research for Action Kate Shaw, Ph.D. Felicia Sanders, Ph.D. GMMB Jacquie Lawing Ebert, Partner
Common Core State Standards: Where Are We? Most teachers and even more principals are closely following their state’s effort to adopt the CCSS. Teachers 67% Very/fairly closely Somewhat closely Not closely Very closely 30% Principals Very/fairly closely Somewhat closely Not closely 80% Very closely 41%
Unfavorable Somewhat favorable Very favorable Neither favorable nor unfavorable/not sure Principals see states headed in the right direction on raising standards and outcomes; teachers less so. Teachers Principals Right direction Wrongdirection Right direction Wrongdirection Not sure Not sure Teachers are somewhat favorable to CCSS; principals are more enthusiastic. Teachers Principals 61% FAVOR-ABLE 77% FAVORABLE
Teachers’ Interest in Tools • Educators’ questions reflect their concerns that they could add to workload, conflict with their teaching style, or simply not yield the promised results. • Does it take more time? • Does it work with my curriculum? • Does it work with my teaching style? • Does it overpromise? • How was it validated? • Does it require the use of a computer? • Administrators biggest concern is that they do not see these materials and resources as the next step in the process, nor do they think the tools will be widely used without support. • Over 90% of teachers show support for using the supports and materials, especially at lower-achieving schools; all types of educators have major questions.
Tools: Clarity & Ease of Use ELA Materials Math Materials (Volunteered Comments of English, History, Science, Social Studies teachers) (Volunteered Comments of Math teachers) Easy to use, simple, easy to understand, clear Material must be interesting, able to engage the student, grab their attention Materials need to be useful/effective/meaningful, relevant to curriculum Help students learn/succeed/ achieve, prepare them for the future Must cover all students, all levels of learning/ comprehension Adaptable, flexible 25% 14% 14% 12% 12% 10% Easy to understand, easyto use/incorporate intocurriculum Student-friendly, motivatesstudents, students canrelate to Closely aligned to the standards Interesting, functional, up-to-date Effective, proven it works,tested, research-based 25% 20% 11% 11% 10% 46
Literacy Tools Teachers see tools as a good fit.
Literacy Tools Teachers see alignment of tools with content.
Literacy Tools Tools increase engagement and provide important information to teachers.
Math Tools Teachers see tools as a strong teaching model.
Math Tools Tools are good fit for math curriculum.
Math Tools Tools provides important information about students.
Overall Climate: Challenges and Progress • Diagnostic vs. Sorting • Reform Fatigue • Teachers favorability Teachers: If your local district was planning to implement new policies...who would you trust to give you accurate information about the new policies?
Top 6 LDC Challenges at Midpoint • Initial module development, especially the instructional ladder • Finding content rich reading materials at the students’ reading level • Teaching modules to middle school students • Implementing a module that the teacher did not develop • Developing mini-assignments that help students complete the task • Developing modules for science and social studies classes
Top 6 MDC Challenges at Midpoint • Tension between using FALs and covering content • Teacher difficulty facilitating math discussions • Variety and amount of FALs available • Keeping students on task during the collaborative activity • Using FALs with students who struggle in math • Guidance about how to use FAL over 2-3 days
Highlighting Exercise: Key Words And Concepts • The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has piloted a set of easy-to-use materials and research-based resources to help teachers teach reading, writing, and math more powerfully in middle and high school. The materials give all subject matter teachers, including science, history, and social studies teachers, the flexibility to personalize and tailor learning so that every student can master the new required content for English language arts and math. The instructional tools developed under this effort are, in essence, a set of lessons and strategies that teachers can either adopt wholesale or adapt as needed. They are built around lessons and exercises aligned to the new standards, and are intended to be integrated by the teacher into the existing curriculum. Utilizing best-in-practice instructional design with flexibility built in, the materials were developed for a two-pronged approach: • To help busy teachers differentiate instruction and teach students with different levels of understanding, and • To enable teachers to be creative in how they help students master the content. • These research-based materials will be available to teachers for free.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has piloted a set ofeasy-to-usematerialsand research-basedresources to help teachers teachreading, writing, andmathmore powerfully in middle and highschool. The materials give all subject matter teachers,including science, history, and social studies teachers, theflexibilitytopersonalizeandtailorlearningso thatevery studentcan masterthe newrequired content forEnglish language arts and math. The instructional tools developed under this effort are, in essence, a set oflessons andstrategiesthat teachers can eitheradoptwholesale or adapt as needed. They are built aroundlessons and exercisesalignedto the new standards, andare intended to beintegratedby the teacherinto the existing curriculum. Utilizingbest-in-practiceinstructional design withflexibilitybuilt in, the materials were developed for a two-pronged approach: • Tohelp busyteachers differentiateinstructionand teach students with different levels of understanding, and • Toenable teachers to be creativein how theyhelp students master the content. • These research-based materials will beavailable to teachers forfree. Teachers and Principals Darker colors and larger fonts mean more teachers highlighted the word as creating a favorable impression.
