Quality School Line

A teacher in Ocala, FL found how useful flow charts can be in teaching math skills to students. After introducing the concept of long division to her fourth graders, she gave them a set of problems to do and was abashed by the barrage of questions that emerged as they worked. A chorus of “What do I do next?” voices demonstrated clearly that they had not absorbed the lesson that she had presented.

“Let’s do a flow chart of the process,” she finally said to the class, and together they used this tool to show the steps in solving long division problems. First, the flow chart was drawn on a flip chart, but then the teacher made copies for each student to have in his or her notebook.

The next time the class was presented with long division problems, they worked quietly. At first, the teacher saw them flipping back and forth to consult their flow charts. Ultimately, however, they were forging ahead without the need to review the steps on the charts. They had learned how to do long division, no longer relying on the teacher to help them when they were stumped, but having the confidence to depend on their own available resources. (These resources, it was clear, were finally their own, rather than simply external support.)

It took a great deal of time for the teacher to draw the flow chart, reduce it to notebook-size, and reproduce it for her students. When DATAjogger software is available, teachers will be able to construct the flow chart with the class, using the program and a projection system. They could easily revise and “erase” as needed, until the chart accurately reflected the long division process. Then the chart could have been either printed or distributed electronically for each student to have.

Below is a flow chart that demonstrates how easy it is to create a step-by-step visual learning tool for long division (this story appears in Tools and Techniques to Inspire Classroom Learning, by Barbara A. Cleary and Sally J. Duncan. Milwaukee: ASQ Quality Press, 1997).

Got stories?
Many of you have used the Process and Tools to improve classroom processes and support learning. We’re opening Quality School Line to a series of these stories, and invite you to send details of your experiences with the improvement tools. If we use your story, we’ll send you a copy of Alfie Kohn’s book, Punished by Rewards, a stimulating discussion of the role of external and internal motivation in student learning. All you need to do is describe how you’ve used a particular tool, tell us a little about your school (its location, number of students, and a little about its quality journey), and indicate your position in the school. We can identify you and your school or not, as you prefer. Your colleagues who are looking for concrete ways to apply these tools will thank you!

We put our toe in the water with a pilot version of Quality School Line in May, and now we're swimming out into the deep water, providing monthly tips, examples, and suggestions to classroom teachers and administrators. Watch for classroom projects, downloadable templates, and discounted software for your classroom.
Newsletter Spotlight
New Course: Creating Data Folders Do you keep student data folders? Do you know other teachers who do? Then you already know the benefits of data folders; more student responsibility, better communication with parents, and improved scores. But how do you find the time to create and keep them? Sally has designed a new course for busy teachers who want a no-hassle way to keep student data folders. This 3-hour session will teach you how to create data folders using DATAjogger software. Each participant will make and take an example data folder that can be used as a template. For more information, visit http://www.pqsystems.com/k12seminar.htm
Tip of Month
A teacher in Ocala, FL found how useful flow charts can be in teaching math skills to students. After introducing the concept of long division to her fourth graders, she gave them a set of problems to do and was abashed by the barrage of questions that emerged as they worked. A chorus of “What do I do next?” voices demonstrated clearly that they had not absorbed the lesson that she had presented. “Let’s do a flow chart of the process,” she finally said to the class, and together they used this tool to show the steps in solving long division problems. First, the flow chart was drawn on a flip chart, but then the teacher made copies for each student to have in his or her notebook. The next time the class was presented with long division problems, they worked quietly. At first, the teacher saw them flipping back and forth to consult their flow charts. Ultimately, however, they were forging ahead without the need to review the steps on the charts. They had learned how to do long division, no longer relying on the teacher to help them when they were stumped, but having the confidence to depend on their own available resources. (These resources, it was clear, were finally their own, rather than simply external support.) It took a great deal of time for the teacher to draw the flow chart, reduce it to notebook-size, and reproduce it for her students. When DATAjogger software is available, teachers will be able to construct the flow chart with the class, using the program and a projection system. They could easily revise and “erase” as needed, until the chart accurately reflected the long division process. Then the chart could have been either printed or distributed electronically for each student to have. Below is a flow chart that demonstrates how easy it is to create a step-by-step visual learning tool for long division (this story appears in Tools and Techniques to Inspire Classroom Learning, by Barbara A. Cleary and Sally J. Duncan. Milwaukee: ASQ Quality Press, 1997). Got stories? Many of you have used the Process and Tools to improve classroom processes and support learning. We’re opening Quality School Line to a series of these stories, and invite you to send details of your experiences with the improvement tools. If we use your story, we’ll send you a copy of Alfie Kohn’s book, Punished by Rewards, a stimulating discussion of the role of external and internal motivation in student learning. All you need to do is describe how you’ve used a particular tool, tell us a little about your school (its location, number of students, and a little about its quality journey), and indicate your position in the school. We can identify you and your school or not, as you prefer. Your colleagues who are looking for concrete ways to apply these tools will thank you! Copyright 2003 by PQ Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.