Classroom Redesign

Classroom Redesign

I have been hearing about many amazing things happening in the district due to schools going through the redesign process. Although Edgewood Elementary isn't currently going through the process I decided to start brainstorming ideas on how I could begin redesigning my classroom to better meet the needs of all my students. This blog explains the ideas I have come up with. 🙂

Current Classroom Schedule

I teach three different classes math and science, so my blocks are 90 minutes. Currently, my students come into class, put their materials down, and begin working on a problem solving word problem. I normally pull these problems from past STAAR Tests or Exemplar Problems from the curriculum. The students have 10 minutes to solve the problem independently. Afterwards all the students sit on the carpet for a 20 minute whole group lesson. During the whole group lesson I explicitly teach new material. I always thought this method isn't always the most efficient, but I have just never changed this teaching style in my classroom. After whole group instruction all the students get on a device and work on MAP Skills, Istation, Imagine Math, or XtraMath while I pull small groups. I normally have an hour to pull small groups which normally gets me to see two groups a class period. I really try to not rush my small group time. My small groups constantly change based on what the students need. I change small groups by looking at the learning continuum report from the MAP Website and CBA Assessments and PSA Assessments. This is how I determine who needs to meet with me and what they need to be working on. I also have a small group sign-up station where my students are able to sign up for a small group if they know they are struggling on a specific skill or topic.

What I noticed

What have I noticed in my classroom with my students?
1. My students are very dependent on me.
2. My students do not have motivation, grit, growth mindset, or perseverance.
3. My students do not know how to be proud of themselves.
4. My students do not know what it means to study and learn on their own.
5. My students give up when the going gets tough.
6. My students don't know how to set goals and work to achieve them over a long period of time.
7. My students aren't engaged in their learning when I am lecturing at them.

Redesign Inspirtation

I had the opportunity to go observe Northbrook Middle School, so much of my inspiration has come from what they are doing in their math and humanities department. Although I observed a middle school and work in an elementary school, I have tweaked many ideas to work for the level of students I work with (fourth grade math and science).

My Redesign Process

I went to observe Northbrook Middle School January 30th, 2018, and that very day I started working to redesign my own classroom. I am officially ready to launch my redesign with my students Monday, March 5th, 2018. So it has taken my about a month to prepare my first redesign unit (decimals) with my students. During this month I have...

1. Created a decimal unit in itslearning

2. Updated my itslearning dashboard

2. Created proficiency scales for each priority standard in the decimal unit

3. Created 2 performance tasks for each proficiency scale (1 to test proficient level and 1 to test advanced level)

4. Created data folders for each of my students

5. And many other little things...

What will the redesign look like?

Watch this video to get an idea of what one math block will look like during the day.
Watch my video!

I will continue to update everyone, and please keep in touch with how it is going. Launch Day is March 5th, 2018, so Monday will be like the first day of school all over again!!! YIKES!
"Change is hard in the beginning, messy in the middle, and gorgeous in the end!"