Video Transcript
This is Ronda, a wonderful kindergarten teacher. In this video, I’m going to show you how she used research evidence to find new strategies to enhance her students' ability to talk about math in meaningful ways.
HI friends, I’m Matthew Courtney and here we talk all about education research and data. If you’re into that, make sure you like and subscribe and come be a part of our community.
Ronda, like many educators, noticed a troubling trend after the pandemic—her kindergarten students were struggling to engage in meaningful mathematical discourse. This wasn’t just about getting the right answers; it was about being able to talk through their thinking, explain their reasoning, and understand each other’s ideas. Ronda knew that if her students were going to succeed in math, this was a challenge that needed to be addressed.
Instead of guessing at a solution, Ronda turned to the research literature, searching for evidence-based strategies to improve mathematical discourse in young children. She discovered studies that emphasized the importance of structured discussions, questioning techniques, and peer interaction. Inspired by the research, Ronda developed a rubric to assess the quality of her students' mathematical discourse. This rubric allowed her to measure where her students were starting and track their progress over time.
Armed with her rubric and a wealth of research-based strategies, Ronda began to implement new approaches in her classroom. She introduced more structured math talks, encouraged students to explain their thinking in pairs and small groups, and used specific questioning techniques to deepen their understanding. Over time, Ronda found a particular strategy that resonated with her teaching style and fit seamlessly into her existing classroom structure. This strategy not only aligned with her personal educational philosophy but also led to measurable improvements in her students' mathematical discourse.
Ronda’s journey is a testament to the power of evidence-based decision-making, but it’s also a reminder that what works for one teacher might not work for another. The key is not to simply replicate what Ronda did, but to adopt the process she used—research, assess, and adapt until you find the strategy that works best for you and your students.
Ronda’s story shows us the incredible impact that evidence-based decision-making can have in the classroom. Remember that the best solutions come from taking time to understand the research and adapting it to your unique context. Don’t just copy—innovate.
If you found value in this video today, make sure to like and subscribe and check out some of the other videos on my channel. I’ll see you next time.
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