2011 Peer To Peer Memo
0 likes56 views
Mr. Garcia's peer-to-peer focus for the 2010-2011 school year was having students explain homework problems at the board to develop problem solving skills. He would randomly select students to explain parts of problems until they were solved. This allowed him to evaluate students' understanding and provide feedback. Meetings with his peer coach, Carol Bella, were helpful - they discussed alternative assessment methods and fine-tuning homework review. Mr. Garcia incorporated more group tests and take-home exams as a result. He was happy with his peer coaching experience and thinks he implemented useful new classroom techniques.
2011 Peer To Peer Memo
- 1. Memorandum To: Linda Kellner, Assistant Principal From: A. Jorge García, Mathematics Teacher Re: PeertoPeer Focus 2010–2011 Date: 6/6/2011 My P2P Focus for the 2005–2006 school was “How can I involve as many students as possible during home work review.” The day after new material is presented to my Math students, I have them explain their home work at the board. I randomly select one student at a time to explain part of a problem. Then I randomly select another to continue the problem. I continue this process until each problem is solved and we then start the next problem. The emphasis in Math class is to develop problem solving skills. In this vein I have Clear and High Expectations that each and every student can achieve a highquality of work. As the students develop their solutions at the board, I make sure to interject appropriate learning standards for that problem. We also accentuate Academic Rigor in a Thinking Curriculum by focusing on the core ideas of each problem as the solution is developed by the students. I also expect students not at the board to ask questions about the solution if they do not understand or add to the solution if they see a better solution. This process also lends itself to Fair and Credible Evaluation. When I select a student to go to the board I evaluate their work on the problem at hand. My meetings with my Peer Coach were very helpful. Carol Bella’s focus was alternative assessment. I will be incorporating more group tests and take home tests in the future as a result. Carol also helped me fine tune my homework review. I make sure to make examples of the best solutions. I challenge the students at the board to explain key ideas that come up in the solution. I check preparedness for class. I also provide feedback to each student so they know what is expected of them. I am very happy with my Peer Coaching experience this year. I think I put into place many new and useful techniques for class and I learned a lot from my Peer Coach. Sincerely, A. Jorge García Applied Math & CS Baldwin SHS & Nassau CC http://calcpage.tripod.com calcpage@lycos.com p2pMemo2011.doc 1