Working Together to Improve Student Achievement Using Thinking Maps Moanalua Middle School Caroline Wong, Principal Renae Villa, Teacher Oriana Lulu, 8 th grader April 20, 2007 Moanalua High School Professional Development Conference

Try Something New!

Discover the Power of Your Own Mind

Benefits of Meta-analysis Collectively, the sample size was large enough to show significance: 2,802 schools 14,000 teachers 1.4 million students

Three Elements of Effective Pedagogy Instructional Strategies Curriculum Design Management Techniques Effective Pedagogy

CategoryPercentile Gain No. of Studies Identifying similarities and differences4531 Summarizing and note taking34179 Reinforcing effort and providing recognition 2921 Homework and practice28134 Nonlinguistic representations27246 Cooperative learning27122 Setting objectives and providing feedback Generating and testing hypotheses2363 Questions, cues, and advance organizers 221,251 Nine categories of instructional strategies that have a strong effect on student achievement.

Focus on Learning What do we do to ensure that all students have opportunities to learn at high levels? What instructional strategies are we using that focus on the brain’s natural learning processes? Do students have multiple ways to learn information and to demonstrate what they are learning in creative, flexible ways? Are we using processes that allow and encourage students to integrate learning across disciplines?

Use the Bubble Map to Describe What you Already Know about Thinking Maps

Thinking Maps Are Different from Graphic Organizers because… they are linked to (1) specific thinking processes

(2) Thinking Maps Provide a Shared Language

HCPS III: Benchmark Maps Four Taxonomic Levels Knowledge: Give, List, Name Comprehension: Describe, Explain, Identify, Illustrate Analysis: Classify, Compare, Sequence Application: Investigate, Utilize, Predict

MMS STAFF Professional Growth WORD WALL Purposeful: with intentionality

Purposeful Community Outcomes that matter to all Agreed upon processes Use of all assets Collective Efficacy

Key research findings There is a positive and significant relationship between collective efficacy & student achievement. Collective efficacy has a stronger effect on student achievement than race or socio- economic status. Collective efficacy is task-specific.

MMS STAFF Professional Growth WORD WALL Purposeful Inclusive…no one is invisible Research-based best practice Efficacy Reflection

“Insanity is doing the same thing you have always done and expecting different results.” -Albert Einstein It’s not about trying harder…. We need to do it collectively.

Why Thinking Maps? Needed something DIFFERENT for students 3 content preps  Language Arts  Leadership Training  Study Skills Consistent tools

Maps are … Visual Kinesthetic Encourages collaboration Time efficient Present-able Displayable

Leadership Training Describe a leader  What are the 6 most important traits?  Encourages discussion & concensus  Allows for some self- analysis Effective Leader Good speaker Hard Worker Caring Fair Organized Listens to others

Other Maps Effects of Good/Bad Leader Compare Leadership Styles Bad Leader Biased Not organized Doesn’t listen Self- Serving Work doesn’t get done Speaks For Himself – Not others Free Reign Members Feel committed Members Make decision Democratic

Using the Thinking Process Challenge: breaking project into tasks and tasks into smaller steps Set Guidelines Posters Bulletin Anncmts Flyers Patriotic Shirt Day FLEE Map Get Approval Determine rules Get Mrs. Villa’s approval Help create flyer Write memo Submit for aprvl Talk w/ Mrs. Wong Inform committee Determine wording Put on board Ask for help Make posters Check for quality Post on bulletin brds

Real Learning What did they learn from the experience? How did they develop? Quality Producer PosterWhole eventLeadership Checked criteria Made nice poster Met criteria Completed tasks on time Helped others Asked all my friends to participate Met all objectives Listened to other ideas Managed my time Worked hard to make event a success

Language Arts Bullying Project Challenges:  Narrow down the subject  Keep the students focused on the topics  Answer the essential questions  Recognize what needs to be done  Setting criteria for a quality product

Setting the Criteria for Quality Powerpoint What will it look like? Main criteria Content Graphics Info is accurate Pictures are Related to words

Keep Focused on Topics Define & identify the problem of bullying at MMS  What is bullying?  Describe the situation when bullying occurs  What does the data say about bullying on our campus?  What is the impact on students? BULLYING CAUSE EFFECT

Keep Focused on Topics Existing Policies & Programs Purpose How does it work? How does it address bullying? Connections Class Purpose How it worksAddresses Bullying

Connections Class Improve and maintain  Communication  Problem solving  Team building Meets everyday; built into bell schedule Students have an adult to trust Students have a group they belong to Source: MMS Student Planner

Keep Focused on Topics Proposed Solutions  Purpose  How it works  How it addresses bullying  What needs to be done?

Present idea to faculty Make tickets Distribute tickets to Advisory teachers Introduce program at assembly and over CCTV Posters up around campus Flyers in classes Teachers start to give out tickets for acts of kindness Students redeem tickets and show off to friends Student recognized on bulletin or at assemblies