|
Implementing the study
To conduct this study we designed the Other 3Rs training for teachers and compared it to a rigorous and well-researched instructional program on enhancing memory developed at Yale University. This comparison program was selected because it has been shown to be effective in increasing achievement of students at various grade levels.
Both the Other 3Rs and the Memory trainings were five sessions, 3 hours in length, and were conducted every 2 weeks from late October 2004 to the end of January 2005. Teachers learned skills and content that they then incorporated into their daily instruction.
The Other 3Rs training was designed with lessons that infused reasoning, resilience and responsibility into the already existing curriculum. The centerpiece of this training was a new problem-solving model that encourages students to reason well, be resilient in the face of challenges and take responsibility for their learning. Session 1 was an overview and introduction to the concepts as an academic and life skills model. In sessions 2 through 5 teachers practiced applying the Other 3Rs Problem Solving Model within two subject/interpersonal areas each session as follows:
Session 2 Mathematics Reading
Session 3 Mathematics Interpersonal
Session 4 Mathematics Science
Session 5 Mathematics Social Studies
Each session of the trainings included the same four components:
• Review and discussion
• Hands on practice
• Application
• Taking the lessons into the classroom
Who was involved?
A noteworthy feature of this project is that it was designed and implemented by a team of people representing a broad range of expertise including:
• Researchers on reasoning, resilience and responsibility
• Professional development experts
• Curriculum developers
• Teacher trainers
• Program implementation experts
• Design and evaluation consultants
• Elementary school teachers.
MCPS individuals played a key role in every step of the process from designing the curriculum, to teaching it, to successfully implementing the project.
Who Participated
Students
724 students participated. This number reflects a 91% participation rate from all students who received a parent permission slip. This is an exceptionally high student participation rate.
| Race/ethnicity |
| |
Sample
breakdown |
MCPS
total breakdown |
| White |
33.9 % |
44.6% |
| African
American |
23.2 % |
22.1% |
| Hispanic |
8.9 % |
18.7% |
| Asian |
11.0 % |
14.3% |
| American
Indian |
2.9 % |
0.3% |
Alaska
Native
Other
| 0.4 %
19.9 %
|
Girls
Boys |
386 (53.3%)
338 (46.7%) |
| Average age = 8.10 |
| Race/ethnicity |
White
African American
Asian American
Multiple races
Other
|
72.1%
11.6%
7.0%
7.0%
2.3% |
| Gender |
Female
Male |
42 (97.7%)
1 (2.3%) |
| Average
years of teaching experience = 9.61 |
|
