The "Improving 7th Grade Math Performance" strategy focuses on strengthening students' mathematics skills through three primary approaches. Firstly, engaging students with real-world applications connects mathematical concepts to everyday life, such as by using technology for interactive learning and organizing field trips for practical math exercises. For example, students might manage a class shop to understand accounting basics. Secondly, differentiated instruction techniques cater to individual learning styles and paces. This involves grouping students by ability or interest, utilizing various teaching materials, and offering personalized feedback to ensure all students are appropriately challenged. Lastly, the strategy emphasizes creating a supportive learning environment by fostering a positive classroom culture, promoting collaborative projects, and maintaining open communication with parents. Establishing weekly math clinics can provide additional student support and encouragement to cultivate a growth mindset.
The strategies
⛳️ Strategy 1: Engage Students with Real-world Applications
- Incorporate math problems based on real-life scenarios to make learning relatable
- Use technology and math apps to create interactive problem-solving sessions
- Visit educational math exhibits or museums for practical exposure
- Invite guest speakers who use math in their professions to share experiences
- Organise field trips that involve practical math applications, such as budget calculations
- Create projects where students have to apply math concepts to solve community issues
- Encourage students to track personal finances or fundraising goals using math
- Design experiments that require data collection and mathematical analysis
- Set up a class shop simulation where students manage accounts and currency
- Develop a classroom blog where students post real-world math problem solutions
⛳️ Strategy 2: Use Differentiated Instruction Techniques
- Assess individual student's strengths and weaknesses through diagnostic tests
- Group students by ability or interest for tailored instruction
- Provide additional resources for advanced learners to explore deeper concepts
- Utilise visual aids and manipulatives for visual or tactile learners
- Create peer-tutoring partnerships between students
- Integrate various teaching materials such as videos, games, and quizzes
- Offer personalized feedback and support based on students' performance
- Utilize flexible groupings to keep learners engaged and appropriately challenged
- Implement a varied pacing schedule to accommodate different learning speeds
- Design assignments that have multiple formats or allow for choice in how they are completed
⛳️ Strategy 3: Foster a Supportive Learning Environment
- Establish a positive classroom culture that encourages math exploration and questions
- Use inclusive language and practices that promote a growth mindset
- Recognise and celebrate student achievements and improvements in math
- Encourage collaborative learning through group projects and peer discussions
- Create a safe space for students to express math challenges and receive support
- Set clear learning objectives and share them with students regularly
- Host weekly math clinics or study sessions for additional assistance
- Develop a buddy system for students to help each other with homework
- Communicate regularly with parents about student progress and areas for support
- Encourage reflective learning by asking students to identify strategies that work best for them
Bringing accountability to your strategy
It's one thing to have a plan, it's another to stick to it. We hope that the examples above will help you get started with your own strategy, but we also know that it's easy to get lost in the day-to-day effort.
That's why we built Tability: to help you track your progress, keep your team aligned, and make sure you're always moving in the right direction.
Give it a try and see how it can help you bring accountability to your strategy.
