AT SCHOOL . 2014
In the first half of 2014, we conducted a pilot study with two 5th grade public school teachers to document how they utilized the Learning to Study platform.
Learning to Study guides 4th and 5th-grade teachers in analyzing the content and structure of History and Science texts, as well as implementing reading activities that help children learn disciplinary content and become more familiar with the language used to represent it.
Over the course of a month and a half, we met periodically with each teacher to discuss the principles behind Learning to Study, and plan classroom activities based on three passages from a History textbook, and four excerpts from a Science textbook. We then observed 4 different lessons conducted with a total of 38 students ages 9 and 10.
Based on our observations, teacher feedback, and student work, we concluded that the quality of learning opportunities varied in accordance with a teacher’s command of pedagogical- and content-knowledge. As a result, more proficient teachers succeeded in helping their students not only comprehend History and Science content, but also appropriate key vocabulary and linguistic structures.
We also identified aspects in need of adjustment and/or improvement, which helped us plan for future implementation.