Four BTC Strategies Earn their Respectful Place in the Top Six Learning Modes for RVMS Students

In our longer than anticipated solving equations unit,

We used the following learning activities.

⚝ Vertical white boards with random groups (BTC)      ⚝ EdPuzzle Video

⚝ Check Your Understanding Worksheet with answer keys for feedback (BTC)

⚝ Visualizing the problems with Algebra Blocks         ⚝ Whole Class Discussions (BTC)

⚝ Anchor Chart (poster) for solving equations                 ⚝ Notes for My Forgetful Self (BTC)

⚝ Clicker Quiz Review at the Vertical White Boards (MSM) ⚝ Finding the Mistake lesson

⚝ Analyzing the first quiz         ⚝ Escape Room practice problems

⚝ Fraction lessons with solving equations                                    ⚝ Simulation Trainer (MSM)

MSM - MidSchool Math Curriculum        BTC - Building Thinking Classroom Strategy

Students were to pick their top three learning activities

that best helped them understand how to solve equations.

OVERWHELMINGLY, the #1 learning activity

was VERTICAL WHITE BOARDS (Ch. 3) with 44 out of my 65 students choosing this learning activity.

Tieing for second was Whole Class Discussions/Consolidate Thinking (Ch. 10)

and the Escape Room.

Whole class discussions did not surprise me,

As these are year after year one of my students' favorite learning modes.

The Escape Room was ranked this high,

According to my students,

Because it was just plain fun.

They literally were doing about 20 problems,

But the challenge of moving levels made it fun and engaging.

Rounding out the top six was

Clicker Quiz Reviews,

Notes for my Future Forgetful Self (Ch. 11)

And Analyzing the quiz (Ch. 13).

In summary, out of the top six learning activities,

Four were from BTC strategies!

Students were also to pick the least helpful learning activity. And this came as no surprise either.

The online EdPuzzle Lesson ran away with the least helpful title.

Students don't want passive learning experiences.

They want to talk about the math.

They want to see the math.

They was guidance and feedback.

While an EdPuzzle does contain 3 of the 4,

It's the interactive conversation piece that's missing.

And that's an important piece in learning...

Being able to share and talk about it.

Overall observations from Quiz 1 to Quiz 2.

--> Confidence rose. Students were completing the quiz in a shorter amount of time.

--> Work shown was more organized, more complete, more accurate.

--> Students handed in the second quiz with a sense of pride.

--> Growth occurred. Some increased their grades by 50-60 points.

--> Quiz 2 was easier to grade. More correct answers. Algebraic rules were followed making it easier to find their mistakes.

Questions resulting from these very positive observations.

--> Did these changes happen from the activities used in reteaching?

--> Was quiz 1 a wake-up call and students paid more attention to reteaching?

Concern

We won't have time to always allow a week of additional teaching. I chose to do so with this concept of solving equations as this is a skill that will follow them their entire mathematical education.

What happened today...the day after the quiz.

A student asked, "Are we at the boards today?"

With a total begging look in his eyes.

When I answered yes,

The entire class cheered.

They cheered.

Let that sink in.

They were excited about doing math together.