Students succeed in mathematics with solid thinking, reasoning, and sensemaking skills. Improving students’ understanding of mathematics is at the core of Math Solutions coaching.
Math Solutions will also develop the coaching expertise of your teacher leaders and staff coaches so they continue the growth of school-wide capacity.
Watch how our coaching helped transform classrooms in North Kansas City, Missouri.
Our coaching addresses implementation, which is the stage of learning with the steepest learning curve.
Research shows that when educators are asked to implement anything new, they face a period of difficulty and frustration within the first 8 weeks. This is known as the Implementation Dip.
— Michael Fullan, Leading in a Culture of Change (2007)
Research indicates that the most effective way to impact teacher effectiveness is through professional learning combined with targeted one-on-one support in the classroom. Coaching enables “…teachers to apply their learning more deeply, frequently and consistently than teachers who work alone” (Annenberg Foundation for Education Reform, 2004).
Percentage of teachers who retain new skills learned:
Our Coaching Model
We believe planning, analysis of student work, and progress monitoring are an integral part of the coaching cycle.
There is a chart here with 5 blue-green circles arranged in a ring with arrows indicating a circular model. Each circle is labeled in turn: “Analyze student data to establish goods; Set student learning targets; Learn new instructional skills, Apply learning in the classroom; Preview Progress and reflect on results. There is text in the center of the 5 circles that says “Our Research-Based Coaching Model for Teachers and Leaders”
Areas of Focus
Lesson Modeling
Identified Need:
When teachers and leaders would benefit from observing, planning, and discussing highly effective lessons with an expert in math instruction.
Outcome
- Lesson Pre-Brief—coach and teachers co-plan the lesson he/she will teach. The Math Solutions coach might teach or co-teach the lesson with the teacher.
- The Lesson—Math Solutions coach teaches the lesson to a class of students, while teachers observe with a specific focus identified during the lesson planning sessions.
- Lesson Debrief—Math Solutions coach facilitates as teachers collaborate to debrief the lesson with a focus on student learning and student misconceptions, identifying specific aspects and strategies used that supported student learning. Finally, the team reflects on next instructional steps for students.
Instruction
Identified Need:
When there is a gap between teachers’ knowledge and their implementation of programs and/or instructional strategies, resulting in student learning gaps.
Outcome
- Make intentional decisions about implementing research-based instructional practices.
- Reflect on planning and instructional decisions.
- Develop explicit questioning strategies to elicit student thinking and understanding.
- Make instructional adjustments as needed.
- Cultivate a growth mindset learning community using communication and feedback strategies.
Content
Identified Need:
When teachers need content-specific support to learn curriculum, assessment strategies, or pedagogy.
Outcome
- Strengthen content knowledge.
- Develop content skills to support effective instruction.
Data
Identified Need:
When teachers have access to assessments and data but do not yet use the available data to make decisions about classroom instruction.
Outcome
- Analyze student results to plan for differentiated instruction.
- Design and refine assessments.
- Use instructional routines as a formative assessment tool to identify common patterns of student thinking and to adjust instruction accordingly.
- Plan instruction in response to assessments and data.
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