Maya Thomas collected data from students, teachers, and administrators to identify issues with the pre-algebra curriculum and pedagogy at a school. She found that lower-achieving students had poor attitudes towards the subject and that the textbook was missing significant materials. To address these problems, Maya proposed two options - having students write about how math applies in their daily lives or allowing them to help teach lessons. For these changes to be successful, Maya needs to ensure teacher commitment to the new approaches and gain support from parents and the assistant principal who are accustomed to traditional methods. School-wide mathematics reform could start from Maya's work with one teacher, without changing Maya's proposed options, as her methods were helpful for identifying instructional problems

1. Case Study 8
Maya Thomas: Implementing New Instructional approaches in a K-12 Setting by Chandra Orrill
and Janette R. Hill
1. Critique the steps Maya took to identify the needs in the case, including the collection
and analysis of data.
In this analysis, Maya provided documents as organizing set of ideas to determine what causes students
resistant to value pre-algebra class. Maya list of assumptions and collecting data was very helpful to
identify the problem in order to seek to move towards instructional improvement. Maya took
information from student, teacher, and administrator to detect students’ performance (p. 69). Maya found
from her inquiry work are on poor attitudes of the lower-achieving students and the book has missing
significant materials to cover the lesson (p. 69). I believe that Maya’s summary explained clearly the
issues by including a variety of people involved in determining the intended outcome of the problem that
resulted as curriculum and pedagogy as well as new principles in learning.
Maya used her specialized knowledge to develop new learning environment that involve inspire new
attitudes that lead to change in learning the value of pre-algebra. Maya’s strategies in finding the issues
to the problem is based on breakdown of categories that helped Ruth Ann’s understand the discrepancies
between students attitude towards learning pre-algebra and the national standards. As a result, this study
inspire me to use Maya’s strategies of finding evidence of instructional changes to develop an appropriate
learning by finding out what learners learning style.
Maya has collected enough evidence to suffice the need of innovative way of teaching and learning that
are engaging that encourage student centered-learning. I found that Maya’s ideas are presented well
evidence to support the change of teaching and learning to transform a culture that the seventh grade math
students will be able to adapt on their own.
2. What are some of the options Maya can explore to support the learning environment
Ruth Ann requested?
In my analysis, Maya’s has two options for the learning environment to explore because there are no
assurances for Ruth Ann’s commitment to work with Maya’s options. First, Maya is thinking that the
learners will be able to write about life experience related on numbers that the learners have applied on
day-to-day basis, which might be feasible for Ruth Ann’s students. Second, Maya came up with giving
the learners an incentive to be able to have the learners help Ruth Ann solve the problems. I like the idea
of having the learners teaching in the classroom in order for the learners identify and assess curiosity as
well as value the knowledge they acquire that will apply in real life. About the parents, Maya mentioned
that Ruth Ann has to review the two options such as learners will be able to teach in class and write a
reflection if she is comfortable with the idea and they will work together on how to present the new
materials to parents.
I believe that Maya is optimistic in helping Ruth Ann implementing the approach once the evidence
reviews systematically and analytically the options that was suggested to her needs. The culture change
around teaching is a lot of work and challenging. However, successful change requires both principal and

2. parents to support one another in order to meet the state and national standards. Developing a meaningful
change in their instructional practice, the ideas of innovative way are demonstrated to be successful would
spread to others teachers.
3. What are some of the critical factors Maya needs to attend to if this effort is to be
successful?
In my understanding, Maya has many critical factors to consider in helping Ruth Ann’s new
instructional approach to create superior math knowledge. First, Ruth Ann’s commitment to
adapt new approach in teaching and learning recommends assurance and confident in new
method of learning before Maya move forward to a new approach. Second, community (parents
and assistant principal) are used to traditional approach. Third, the assessment requirement set
by assistant principal if they meet the standard focused on learning and development of
mathematical knowledge (p. 73). These are overall critical aspects that Maya have questions as
per conversation with Ruth Ann to be considered in change process in order to be successful to a
new approach.
In the case study, “Maya left feeling hopeful and confident that she could help Ruth Ann because
of similar kids in her most recent science class” (p. 73). The most important findings that Maya
is very confident about the questions arise because she knows that it could work only if Ruth
Ann actually comfortable with the idea of change of culture education.
The constraint that I see is commitment that teachers have so little time to make change into a
new approach and they want to make sure they are getting the best for their learners. It will be
interesting to see whether Ruth Ann will commit with the idea of emerged the mathematical
knowledge into appealing learning. As a designer, I would begin by following the summary of
field notes from the interview with Ruth and Assistant Principal (p. 71).
4. Consider how the work with Ruth Ann could be used as a starting place for schoolwide
mathematics reform. Does that change the way Maya should work with Ruth Ann and
the other math teachers? Does it change the options they should consider?
As previously mentioned, as a designer, I would begin by following the summary of field notes
from the interview with Ruth and Assistant Principal (p.71). In addition, I will follow by
summary field notes from student interviews (p. 70). I believe that Maya will not change the
way she work with Ruth Ann and the other math teachers because her she feel confident that she
could help Ruth Ann and she could do the same with other math teachers (p. 73). In my opinion,
it is proper to use Maya’s options that Ruth Ann and other math teachers because the evidence
reviews systematically and analytically the options that was suggested to Ruth Ann’s needs.
According to the case study, “Maya understand the situation of Ruth Ann because she is thinking
about the last class that she taught before becoming a staff development specialist after seven
years of teaching” (p. 68). I believe that Maya will do whatever it takes to work with Ruth Ann
and other math teachers to enhance student motivation in learning new things because she enjoys

3. challenging and exciting job. Based on Maya’s findings, as previously mentioned, I believe that
Maya’s summary of assumptions and collecting data was very helpful to identify the problem in
order to seek to move towards instructional improvement. I believe that Maya’s options should
not be change, because it is not sequential and or linear tasks students struggle with sequencing
steps in math. Maya’s option can be useful to other math teachers because collaborative effort
helps find the development gap of learning environment.
5. How might the community and parents influence the success of this effort?
In my opinion, community and parents influence by positive reinforcement through
demonstrations than explanation and making sure to respond to each student’s needs through
assignments. Creating shared investment of communities and parents involvement is essential to
student’s learning and it viewed student’s achievement and learning outcome to succeed.
In relation, when I was in six-grade, I was poor in math, and I am always behind with my
classmates because my math knowledge is not that great. When I do my homework, my aunt
would support me with my learning needs and spend all day teaching me how to understand the
principle of math.
In connection to instructional design, I would design the method of teaching and implementing
with the involvement of community and parents in order for children’s interest in learning and
success in future educational plan. Design the method as home environment learning for parents
monitor assignments and television. I believe that the more parents involved children gain well
in cognitive development as well as help enhance test scores.
In 21st century, community and parent involvement emphasize on activities that support student
learning by providing students with chances to expand their understanding in school and out
school. Having the parent attend the PTA meetings and maybe organize school events, the
uncertainty of parent’s involvement might decrease because they could have more training that
the teacher is aware on current education. Perhaps, community and parent could have training
on instructional tasks in order to influence the success of Maya’s effort to a new approach.