Unit 3: Strategies to Implement to Boost Confidence in Math
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- ETAP 623 Spring 2020 (Zhang)
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- Previous Unit: Unit 2: Factors that Influence Confidence in Math
- Next Unit: Unit 4: Implement and Reflect
Recap and Look Ahead
As you learned in the previous unit, there are many factors that impact the confidence of students in math. Now that you have looked into what impacts confidence, we are going to explore strategies that can help students boost their confidence in math.
Objectives
By the end of Unit 3, participants will be able to:
• Show their understanding of the factors that impact confidence in math by writing in their reflective journal given the link provided, answering each bullet point in the instructions.
• Create and post a plan in the discussion board with strategies to increase the confidence in math of their students given examples and resources listed in the lesson, adhering to each bullet point in the instructions.
Reflect
To begin this unit, first write in your reflective journal. Answer the following question:
Reflect on the factors of confidence in math that you just learned.
What influences stood out to you as being major components in confidence in math?
Which do you think apply the most to your students in your classroom?
https://classroom.google.com/c/MTAxMjMyMTEzNDA4
Class Code: ps2pxvk
Strategies
There are many different activities and strategies that can be implemented in order to boost math confidence of students in the classroom. Here are a few to keep in mind.
Growth Mindset
There are many ways to adjust attitudes of learning by implementing the growth mindset. Here are some strategies:
• One of these ways is to “teach it directly by teaching how the brain changes with learning and how abilities are not fixed and can be developed” (MINDSETS: HOW TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS (AND YOURSELF), 2012, p. 18).
• Teachers can “present themselves as mentors and resources for learning, rather than someone who judges the child’s intellectual ability” (MINDSETS: HOW TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS (AND YOURSELF), 2012, p. 18). This might be less intimidating for students, for the role of a teacher seems more focused on the actual learning than on the grades they present students with.
• Mayer and Alexander discuss reframing failure as a way to change a mindset into a growth mindset. Making the high standard of the class known and demonstrating that the class and teacher are there for support is helpful in encouraging success and the growth mindset (Mayer & Alexander, 2017, p. 70).
• Mayer and Alexander state that, “The research frames these mindsets as malleable and influenced by the environment rather than enduring personality traits. Much of the research has focused on how to directly intervene on students’ mindsets by teaching students about the plasticity of the brain” (Mayer & Alexander, 2017, p.69).
Positive Learning Environment
• Making rules as a class could help create an environment where everyone feels their ideas are heard and respected. Maloy et. al (2017) stated, “Only if students are invited into the process of discussing and deciding what rules should be in place will students become invested in them. In this collaborative approach, rules are not framed as imposed restrictions and limitations but as ways students learn about rights and responsibilities as citizens in a democratic society” (Maloy et al, 2017, p. 70).
• Collaboration instead of competition proved to show more achievement (Mayer & Alexander, 2017, p.70).
Feedback
• Teachers can adjust by giving feedback that is “oriented toward the student’s effort or the strategies they used, and it’s about the progress they made rather than just right/wrong or evaluations of the student’s ability” (MINDSETS: HOW TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS (AND YOURSELF), 2012, p. 18). Doing this also focuses more on the process rather than the outcome. Putting more of an emphasis on the importance of effort can help students see the value in what they are doing, even if they don’t understand the material right away. A lack of understanding does not decrease the value in trying. This can help keep students from feeling defeated and instead inspire them keep their motivation
• In How People Learn II, they discuss giving effective feedback. According to the reading, “effective feedback targets the specific stage a learner can immediately apply, and that helping learners establish connections with knowledge they already have assists them in learning new material” (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018). When you correct their current understanding, doing so in a way that helps them make a connection to something they do know might help them feel more confident and prevent them from shutting down.
Extended Resources
Read AT LEAST two of these resources. The rest are extended resources you may use if you'd like. They further explain ways to implement strategies to increase confidence in the math classroom:
Stopping the Cycle of Math Anxiety: Recommendations for Teachers and Schools: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.libproxy.albany.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=8&sid=249966e6-4f44-428f-a911-30c3c21dc4e2%40sessionmgr4007
Growth Mindset in Math: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northwest/pdf/math-attitudes-training/powerpoint-growth-mindset.pdf
Building a Positive Mathematics Community: https://www-jstor-org.libproxy.albany.edu/stable/pdf/10.5951/mathteacmiddscho.20.8.0499.pdf?ab_segments=0%252Fbasic_SYC-5152%252Ftest&refreqid=excelsior%3A584c225a0e910449433687a82b3ad634
Authentically Supporting a Growth Mindset:https://www-jstor-org.libproxy.albany.edu/stable/pdf/10.5951/teacchilmath.24.5.0280.pdf?ab_segments=0%252Fbasic_SYC-5152%252Ftest&refreqid=excelsior%3Ad380b394f39c9938494558c0763681ea
Building the Optimal Learning Environment for Mathematics: https://www-jstor-org.libproxy.albany.edu/stable/pdf/10.5951/mathteacher.112.4.0262.pdf?ab_segments=0%252Fbasic_SYC-5152%252Fcontrol&refreqid=excelsior%3A14cdde879b9ea93c6625798da3e460e6
Activity
Make a plan to implement a strategy in your classroom.
Discuss
Upon completion of the activity, post in the class discussion board. You should focus on the following:
• What was the strategy/strategies you plan to implement?
• What made you choose that/them?
• How will you implement it into the classroom?
Post your initial discussion and respond to at least two classmates.
https://classroom.google.com/c/MTAxMjMyMTEzNDA4
Class Code: ps2pxvk
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