- Year 2024
- NSF Noyce Award # 1852690
- First Name Edward
- Last Name Freeman
- Registration Faculty/Administrator/Other
- Discipline Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics, STEM Education (general)
- Role Co-PI
- Presenters
Edward Freeman, St. John Fisher University
Need
Our scholars are being exposed to teacher resources centered on data analysis in the classroom, culturally sensitive pedagogy, mentoring training, and trauma informed pedagogy.
Research Questions
Our research question centers on the role of trauma informed teaching strategies in promoting early career success and perseverance.
Approach
Our scholars spend the fall semester working with data modules. The goals of this training are to: expose students to pre-existing teaching resources, provide students the opportunity to work through a module as if they were a student learning the material, provide students the opportunity to search for a pre-existing module on a topic of their own choosing (Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Physics),have students work through the generation of a mini-lesson wherein the would use the module with a selected grade level, discuss with the entire group what they liked and what modifications they would make, and note how their lesson would address the NY state standards. During the spring semester our scholars work through various sessions centered on building culture awareness and sensitivity. The goals of this training are: -to increase understanding of equity and inclusion and their influence on teacher-student interactions and teaching practices by reflecting upon diversity, equality, equity, culture, and social identity through case studies, -to recognize the impact of conscious and unconscious assumptions, preconceptions, biases, and prejudices on the teacher-student relationship using a Culture Box and the video “Tale of the O’s”, -to acquire skills to manage them, and identify concrete strategies for learning about and addressing issues of equity and inclusion, and receive some principles for being an intentional, Culturally Aware Teacher. Finally, in the spring semester our scholars also have an opportunity to begin developing their mentoring skills. Scholars receive tips to better prepared their future students for College. The topics includes: -having an effective syllabi, -knowing your students’ learning style, -teaching effective note taking skills,- learning how to improve your students’ study habits, -the use of exam reflections, -time management skills.
Outcomes
We anticipate that exposure to trauma informed teaching strategies will empower our scholars to better navigate the challenges that early career teachers inevitably face when working in high needs districts.
Broader Impacts
We are early in the process of studying the impact of trauma informed teaching strategies on early career progression. Our first two cohorts had a total of three students; each of these scholars is completing their first year as a math teacher.
