Professors Awarded Grants to Explore Math, Literacy Teaching Methods of Utah's Exceptional Teachers

Strategic Insights -

Tye Campbell and Qi Si, assistant professors in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) within the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University, were recently awarded ULEAD grants from the Utah State Board of Education to explore the literacy and math teaching practices of the most exceptional fourth-grade teachers in Utah's public school system. These researchers interviewed eight of the 10 exceptional teachers identified in Utah, representing eight elementary schools across six school districts in both rural and urban Utah communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers focused on specific classroom teaching practices the educators felt best supported student growth in math and English Language Arts (ELA).
  • Tye Campbell explored unique teaching practices, such as pre-teaching math concepts through a daily piral review, and targeted small-group intervention instruction using data like daily quiz scores.
  • Teachers also incorporated a form of teacher-student journaling, which helped students feel more connected to their teacher and elicited positive behavior in the classroom.
  • Qi Si explored the technology-based tools and methods that these eight teachers frequently utilized in their classrooms, including online educational games to make learning more interesting and motivating for students.
  • The teachers reported using some type of technology at least three times per week for various purposes, including group instruction, independent practice, and assessments.
  • However, each educator also reported challenges and the need to continually adapt to address the challenges, such as internet connection problems and unstable programs.
  • The researchers submitted their comprehensive written reports to ULEAD and plan to share their findings with the public, aiming to give teachers new strategies and practices to support their work in Utah's classrooms.

Statistics:

  • 1,545 teachers were identified in the state of Utah based on a specific set of criteria: fourth-grade teachers whose students were in the 90th percentile or above for growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and math over the last three years in the annual RISE state assessments.
  • Only 10 teachers in the state of Utah met the criteria.
  • Eight of the 10 teachers were interviewed by the researchers, representing eight elementary schools across six school districts in both rural and urban Utah communities.
  • The teachers reported using technology at least three times per week for various purposes, including group instruction, independent practice, and assessments.
  • 90% of teachers' students were in the 90th percentile or above for growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and math.

Sources:

  • Utah State University School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL)
  • Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
  • Utah State Board of Education
  • ULEAD (Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education)
  • Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference
  • RISE (Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment) state assessments