Snapshots: Best Practices In Math Instruction

Summary

In this video, Cameron Snyder, a fourth-grade teacher at Patrick Henry Elementary School, highlights best practices in math instruction, focusing on the importance of math discourse. By encouraging students to engage in conversations with one another, they enhance their understanding of math concepts and vocabulary. Co-teaching at both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson Middle School emphasizes collaboration between teachers to create a supportive learning environment. Through dialogue and shared responsibility, students, especially English language learners, build not only math skills but also language proficiency that will benefit them beyond the classroom.

Takeaways

• 😀 Engaging students in math discourse is a key strategy at Patrick Henry Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Middle School, encouraging student-to-student conversations about math rather than just teacher-student interactions.
• 😀 Math discourse helps students practice using math vocabulary, improving their understanding of the subject and its concepts.
• 😀 Group work gives students a chance to express their ideas, boosting their confidence and content knowledge before presenting to the whole class.
• 😀 Discourse between students allows them to hear different perspectives, which may help them refine their own problem-solving methods.
• 😀 Encouraging students to share their ideas fosters a culture of inquiry and helps them see the value in their own contributions.
• 😀 At Patrick Henry, a focus on math discourse helps English language learners develop both math-specific and general language skills.
• 😀 Sentence frames and sentence starters posted around the classroom help students, especially English learners, improve their language skills during math lessons.
• 😀 Co-teaching is an important practice at Thomas Jefferson, where teachers work as equals in the classroom and provide feedback to students collectively.
• 😀 The co-teaching model at Thomas Jefferson promotes a partnership where both teachers share equal responsibility for all students, rather than focusing on specific subject areas.
• 😀 Successful co-teaching relies on mutual respect between teachers, collaboration, and a shared understanding of the classroom context.
• 😀 Co-teaching fosters a positive and collaborative environment, with teachers working together to support students' growth and development.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the instructional strategy mentioned in the script?

The primary focus is engaging students in math discourse, encouraging conversations between students about math to foster a deeper understanding and enhance their communication skills.

How does math discourse benefit students in the classroom?

Math discourse benefits students by allowing them to express their ideas and hear different perspectives, which helps solidify their understanding and encourages critical thinking about mathematical concepts.

Why is it important for students to share their ideas in small groups before sharing with the whole class?

Sharing in small groups allows students to feel more comfortable expressing their ideas, which helps build confidence and ensures they understand the content before sharing with the entire class.

What role does math vocabulary play in student discussions?

Math vocabulary helps teachers assess students' understanding of the concepts. If students are not using the appropriate vocabulary, it signals that there may be a gap in their knowledge or understanding.

How does engaging in math discourse support English language learners (ELLs)?

Engaging in math discourse helps ELLs develop both their math-specific language skills and general language skills, as they practice using sentence frames and sentence starters, which are posted around the room.

What is the co-teaching model implemented at Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson schools?

The co-teaching model at these schools involves a partnership where both teachers collaborate equally in teaching the class, providing feedback to students, and sharing responsibility for the entire class, regardless of subject domain.

How does the co-teaching model affect the dynamics between teachers and students?

The co-teaching model fosters a sense of shared responsibility, making students feel supported by both teachers. This model also encourages respect for all adults in the classroom and creates a cooperative, inclusive learning environment.

What is the significance of teachers working together in the classroom?

When teachers work together, it promotes a positive learning atmosphere, improves classroom management, and ensures that all students receive appropriate support, leading to more effective teaching and learning.

How does the co-teaching model benefit the students?

The co-teaching model benefits students by providing them with additional support and diverse teaching strategies, which enhances their learning experience and allows them to receive feedback from both teachers.

What key quality is essential for a successful co-teaching partnership?

The key quality for a successful co-teaching partnership is collaboration and mutual respect. Both teachers should be comfortable with the context and committed to working together as equals to meet the needs of all students.