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Problem Solving

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K.c. Della Fera

The document discusses the objectives and problems with a Saturday school program aimed at preparing students for standardized tests. The program was struggling with student engagement, disruptive behavior, no science content, a random curriculum, and inability to measure mastery or attendance. The author implemented three solutions: 1) Regrouping students by achievement level, 2) Providing incentives for attendance and participation, and 3) Tracking student progress with mini quizzes. The results were smaller class sizes, inclusion of science, focused lessons, increased engagement and accountability, and a way to measure mastery. While successful, the author realized they neglected an important resource - colleagues - and that an IE master's could help utilize a team setting in the future.

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The Situation: SATURDAY SCHOOL
Objective of Saturday school: Supplement classroom instruction to prepare students for annual standardized tests
These tests determine which track students will be placed on in subsequent years
The aim being that a student is placed on a track to graduate.
Students performance on these exams also determines the grade the school receives at the end of the year.
School grades are intended to keep schools accountable
And allow parents to make informed decisions
This creates a high pressure environment in which students are expected to perform.
Saturday school is intended to better prepare students for the exam, thus relieving some pressure.
Unfortunately, our program was missing the mark.
The Problems: Students not engaged in lessons Disruptive behavior No tangible way to measure mastery Science content not included Curriculum chosen at random Low attendance
My Solutions: #1 Regroup the students #2 Provide incentives #3 Track student progress
Solution #1 Regroup the students based on achievement level
Results: Teachers can plan specific lessons Students are engaged : Class sizes are smaller and shorter (50 minute blocks as opposed to 75 minutes) Space for science to be included Higher performing students are no longer bored Lower performing students are not frustrated with high level content
Solution #2 Provide short and long-term incentives
Short-Term Rewards: Pizza at the end of every session Candy for exceptional answers
Long-Term Rewards: Each student receives a passport Students receive passport stamps for attendance (with participation in lessons) 10 stamps = participation in a trip to a theme park at the end of the year
Results: Attendance increases Students are engaged in lessons
Solution #3 Track student progress to measure mastery and target areas for remediation
How it worked: Students were given mini quizzes at the end of a session Quizzes were aligned to a topic from the standardized exam Scores from these quizzes were tracked in a database This data was distributed to teachers, allowing them to use the results to focus their lessons during the week
Results: Tangible way to measure mastery of content Lessons are more focused based on student need Time is used effectively Students are motivated by scores Student accountability increases
Students not engaged in lessons Disruptive behavior Science content not included Curriculum chosen at random No tangible way to measure mastery Low attendance The Final Results:
Where IE comes in While the changes that I instituted were successful, there was one valuable resource that I completely neglected.
My Colleagues
A masters from IE will arm me with the tools I need to work within a group setting and utilize the skills my team has to offer
There will be no missing.

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Problem Solving

Editor's Notes

  1. My solutions: Regroup students based on achievement level (allows teachers to plan lessons for specific groups, cuts down on behavior problems (higher students are not bored, lower performing students are not frustrated and disengaged) Incentivize the program short term (small candy prizes and pizza at the end of sessions) and long term (passport that led to a trip at the end of the year with a certain number of stamps) Data tracking (students took mini quizes at the end of each session, these were
  2. My solution