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.

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