Working Together to Improve

Student Achievement

Using Thinking Maps

Moanalua Middle School Caroline Wong, Principal

Renae Villa, TeacherOriana Lulu, 8th grader

April 20, 2007Moanalua High School

Professional Development Conference

Try Something New!

Discover the Power of Your Own Mind

Benefits of Meta-analysisCollectively, the sample

size was large enough to show significance:

2,802 schools

14,000 teachers

1.4 million students

Three Elements of Effective Pedagogy

InstructionalStrategies

Curriculum Design

Management Techniques

Effective Pedagogy

Category Percentile Gain

No. of Studies

Identifying similarities and differences

45 31

Summarizing and note taking 34 179

Reinforcing effort and providing recognition

29 21

Homework and practice 28 134

Nonlinguistic representations 27 246

Cooperative learning 27 122

Setting objectives and providing feedback

23 408

Generating and testing hypotheses

23 63

Questions, cues, and advance organizers

22 1,251

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 LevelsKnowledge: 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 prepsLanguage ArtsLeadership TrainingStudy 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

EffectiveLeader

Goodspeaker

HardWorker

Caring

Fair

Organized

Listensto others

Other Maps Effects of Good/Bad

Leader

Compare Leadership Styles

BadLeader

Biased

Notorganized

Doesn’tlisten

Self-Serving

Work doesn’tget done

SpeaksFor Himself –Not others

FreeReign

MembersFeel committed

MembersMake decision

Democratic

Using the Thinking Process Challenge: breaking project into tasks and

tasks into smaller steps

Set Guidelines

Posters BulletinAnncmts

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

Poster Whole event Leadership

•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 ArtsBullying 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 areRelated 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

CAUSE

CAUSE

EFFECT

EFFECT

EFFECT

Keep Focused on TopicsExisting Policies & Programs• Purpose• How does it work?• How does it address bullying?

Connections Class

Purpose How it works Addresses Bullying

Connections Class Improve and maintain

CommunicationProblem 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 Source: MMS Student Planner

Keep Focused on Topics

Proposed Solutions PurposeHow it worksHow it addresses

bullyingWhat 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