BLI Showcase(Class)Room to Grow

Using an online classroom space to further individualize learning for accelerated students

Context8th grade class with a handful of students who were interested in

taking the Common Core Algebra Regents Exam

Students with other 8th grade teacher who were also interested

Learning Cultures model for classroomMini-Lesson

Independent Work Time

Conferences

Unison Reading

No separate class and after school was not possible for most of the students

BlendingOnline classroom space for discussions (Canvas)

Online lessons that were linked through the class page

Individualized algebra resources for IWT

Unison Reading group for students taking the regents

Conferences with the regents students focused on Algebra I

ExpectationsStudents who engaged with others in the online class space and kept

up with the online lessons would do better on the benchmark

Students who did not have the intrinsic motivation to do the algebra work or who did not use their peers as resources would not be successful

IssuesIndependence in learning

Collaboration skills

Self-Reflection about skill level

Discussions were mostly online so feedback and clarification took longer

Started midway through the year

Principal required a score of 85 on the benchmark to sit for the regents

SuccessesStudents worked together online to work out the concepts

Some students enjoyed the discussion boards (especially the ability to like others’ posts)

Exposure to the material even though they did not meet the 85 cutoff benchmark

Moving ForwardSetup regents website at beginning of the year and have students

work on it if they are at all interested

Do an early benchmark/diagnostic so they know what foundational skills they need to focus on

Sync the benchmarks with 9th grade to be able to compare data

Increase variety of resources identified on website (especially foundational and remedial skills