Blog Layout

Equitable Math Practices Can Help Close the Achievement Gap

India White • November 20, 2021

Using Equitable Instruction to Close the Achievement Gap

How Equitable Math Instruction Can Enhance Student Achievement - Dr. India White


Leaders nationwide are pursuing methods for closing the achievement gap. There have been noticeable disparities in the achievement between students of color and their peers due to the covid slide, educational policies and more. As a result, researchers have begin looking to find ways to increase academic achievement and student performance overall. One study came from researcher and education expert Jo Boaler who investigated a low performing school in the U.S. named Railside school. Railside was able to overcome various barriers towards academic achievement and become a model school for closing the achievement gap. Researchers found that the work of students and teachers at Railside School was equitable partly because students achieved more equitable outcomes on tests, but also because students learned to act in more equitable ways in their classrooms. Students learned to appreciate the contributions of students from different cultural groups, genders, and attainment levels, a behavior termed relational equity. Further, when dealing with how various approaches can impact academic achievement, Researcher Jo Boaler found that in her research covering “How a Detracked Mathematics Approach Promoted Respect, Responsibility, and High Achievement, Theory Into Practice”, equitable practices were established when teachers encouraged multidimensional classrooms, valued the perspectives of different students, and encouraged students to be responsible for each other.

 

Being Intention – Closing the GAP

Students come to school with differing and, in some cases, inequitable experiences related to their access to resources, support, and possibilities for academic growth. For those who are disadvantaged, low achievement has a wide-reaching effect including higher dropout rates, incarceration, poor health, substance abuse, poverty, and more. These students could have had very different lives had their experiences in school, at home, and in their communities provided them the tools they needed to be successful academically and personally. (Connie Kamm, Closing the achievement gap, 2016).


Areas To Focus On When Closing the Achievement Gap

According to Kamm in her article “Equity and Opportunity Closing the Achievement Gap”
it was noted that some areas of focus for closing the achievement gap included:


1.    Focus on Inequitable Policies that Hinder Achievement

Sometimes, it takes courage from great leaders to speak out against policies and practices that exist that hurt learners. If there is a way of work within your environment that could be a potential danger to the performance of all learners, become proactive in finding ways to dismantle these practices and establish new cultural and academic norms that will best suit the needs of your learners.

 

 2.    Equtiable Distribution of Funds Help Students in Poverty

  According to Kamm (2016), “Systemic practices that impede providing all students with enriched educational experiences often involve the inequitable distribution of resources. Low performing schools not only tend to serve large numbers of poor and minority students but also struggle to attract and retain high quality teachers (Kamm, 2016).”

 

3.    Revisiting Institutional Racism and Disparities

It has become more apparent that various practices within education have had a direct impact on the academic achievement of all students. However, some of these practices have hindered students of color more than their peers. As a result, the achievement gap has grown over the years, and now leaders are dealing with insurmountable obstacles to help all learners to meet academic gains and to perform at the same level. Researcher Kamm mentions issues regarding educational policies and their impact on academic performance, stating that, “Schools that have closed the achievement gap have put in place policies and practices that focus on addressing the following human capital needs: Teachers who work to close the achievement gap are well-prepared to address students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. Teachers are supported in their efforts to revise and improve their instructional practices to yield high achieving student performance (Kamm, 2016).”

 

Equitable Practices that will Enhance Student Achievement

To support students even further when implementing practices that will improve overall academic performance, here are some ways that teachers can implement equitable practices for student achievement:

1.    Use classroom systems that promote equity and fairness

Kagan, CHAMPS, and popsicle sticks work- When students understand their teacher’s rules and procedures, they can begin to establish a sense of normality. Along with routines that provide safety, students are looking to see that there is a fair chance for learning and academic success in every classroom.

2.    Allow Students to Lead in Activities

 

Sometimes the best thing an educator can do is to facilitate and allow students to keep track of the pace of learning within the classroom. Having students create groups as well as calling on classmates to work out problems on the whiteboard can really produce traceable results to student gains and achievement. When students have a voice within instruction, it builds their self-esteem and teaches them leadership skills. They can then take these skills and help their peers to become stronger academic scholars.

 

 

3.    Encourage Students to Advocate for Others

When in classroom setting, it is easy for students to get established into a way of work that can cause some learners to become “wallflowers” In order to avoid having an imbalance of opportunities to participate in assignments or projects, encourage students to advocate for their peers. For example, if one student is used to writing down the answers for the group, have that student pass their leadership role to their peer. This will help build leadership and academic growth within learners, creating room for students to evolve into independent and confident thinkers.

 

Remember, you as the teacher are the most impactful influence on academic success for your students. So, start today and choose to implement equitable practices in your classroom so that all students can achieve, and the achievement gap can continue to close. The true glimpse at academic success starts when a teacher can help every learner make gains, in particular the learners that need them the most. Make it a personal goal today; choose to implement these strategies so you can achieve an environment that is safe and equitable for all learners!

 

References

 Boaler, J. (2006). How a Detracked Mathematics Approach Promoted Respect,

Responsibility, and High Achievement, Theory Into Practice, 45:1, 40-46, DOI:

10.1207/s15430421tip4501_6

 

By India White February 11, 2025
Join us on the Let's Get Gritty Podcast with Dr. India White. On this show, we will repeat a show from the Grit and Equity talks Podcast with Dr. India White, where we walk through the recently released NAEP data from the National Report Card and speak about moving the needle forward. Listen on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/india-white3 #grit #equity #naep #drindiawhite #nctm #ncsm #bwxme #math #teachers #students
By India White February 11, 2025
🌟 Just wrapped up an incredible G.R.I.T. Training session with the amazing leaders from Imagine Schools! πŸ’ͺ✨ We took a deep dive into the G.R.I.T. framework, and I can't wait to see the results unfold! πŸš€πŸ™Œ #drindiawhite #grit #imagineschools #tedx #nctm #ncsm #bwxme πŸŽ‰ (I don’t own music copyright
By India White February 6, 2025
Check out my Feb. 2025 Newsletter!
By India White February 6, 2025
Thankful for Partnership and Recognition: A Shoutout to Dr. Matthew Joseph and X-Factor EDU Network I am incredibly thankful to partner with Dr. Matthew Joseph and the amazing leadership of the X-Factor EDU Network! It is truly an honor to collaborate with such a visionary leader who is dedicated to amplifying voices in education and creating spaces for impactful conversations. This month, I was deeply grateful to be mentioned in Dr. Joseph’s newsletter during Black History Month. His recognition means so much, not just for me, but for the work we are all doing to inspire and empower educators and students alike. You can check out the newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drmxj_stongertogether-activity-7291502796753809408-0zX3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAmqD2wBkz8Qc7EA0bvwxWyMJH2HykCUA-Y But beyond the shoutout, I’m even more excited about the opportunities ahead—including the chance to have a podcast on Dr. Joseph’s platform! Partnering with X-Factor EDU Network opens doors to share insights, engage in meaningful discussions, and continue championing grit, resilience, and equity in education. Thank you, Dr. Matthew Joseph, for your support, encouragement, and belief in this mission. Looking forward to what’s to come! πŸš€ #StrongerTogether #GRIT #XFactorEDU #BlackHistoryMonth #EducationalLeadership #Thankful
By India White February 6, 2025
Fired Up for FDLA/FAMTE Keynote: Let’s Build Grit Together! I’m beyond excited to take the stage as the keynote speaker at the FDLA/FAMTE Conference tomorrow! 🎀πŸ”₯ We’ll be diving deep into the power of G.R.I.T.—Great Resilience in Time—and how it transforms both educators and students. This opportunity means so much, and I’m grateful to everyone who has supported this journey. Grit isn’t just a concept; it’s a movement. It’s about growth mindset, resilience, self-efficacy, and time management, and it’s what drives success in the classroom and beyond. Let’s empower educators and students across the nation to push past obstacles and embrace productive struggle. Who’s ready to get gritty? πŸ’ͺ🏾 #Grit #DrIndiaWhite #TEDx #FDLA #FAMTE #Education #GrowthMindset
By India White February 5, 2025
Had an Amazing Time at the Imagine Summit! I had a fantastic time speaking at the Imagine Summit on G.R.I.T.! πŸ™ŒπŸ½ We engaged in powerful breakout sessions, had meaningful discussions about NAEP data, and explored strategies to build **growth mindset, resilience, self-efficacy, and time management** in education. Thank you to everyone who participated and brought such great energy to the conversations! Let’s continue working together to bridge gaps and empower students through grit and perseverance. πŸ’ͺ🏽 #GRIT #ImagineSummit #Resilience #Education #GrowthMindset #EquityInEducation #drindiawhite
By India White February 5, 2025
Building Grit in Teachers at the Imagine Leadership Summit I am beyond excited to be speaking at the Imagine Leadership Summit today, sharing insights on how we can build grit in teachers and empower them to foster resilience, self-efficacy, and growth in their students. 🌟 This summit is an incredible opportunity to collaborate with principals and education leaders who are committed to supporting and strengthening teachers. When we invest in teacher grit, we build stronger, more effective classrooms where students develop the perseverance to tackle challenges and achieve success. A huge thank you to the Imagine Summit leaders for this amazing opportunity! It’s an honor to be among such an outstanding lineup of speakers, including the incredible Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr. Join our sessions today and take GRIT with you—because when teachers grow in resilience, our students thrive! #GRIT #Teachers #Principals #DrIndiaWhite #NCTM #NCSM #ImagineSummit 😊
By India White January 26, 2025
🌟 What an incredible time at the ICTM conference in Indiana! The lineup was amazing, and the energy was contagious! πŸŽ‰ Since I missed the snow back in Florida, I embraced it fully here and made my very first snow angel! ❄️ So grateful for the fun and gritty spirit of the ICTM rockstars! Huge thanks to Angela and every rockstar for this fantastic opportunity! πŸ’™ #drindiawhite #grit #ictm25 #math #teachers #students #indiana #nctm #ncsm
By India White January 25, 2025
✨ Today’s Grit training at Stockton Unified was absolutely amazing! We had a fantastic time connecting with friends and meeting some incredible rockstars in California. 🌟 I can’t wait to see how gritty Stockton becomes! Huge thanks to Andrew and the tribe for the opportunity to train your amazing leaders. Let’s all take grit with us as we move forward! πŸ’ͺ #Grit #Leadership #StocktonUnified #drindiawhite #tedx #nctm #ncsm #nabse
By India White January 25, 2025
🎊Super excited about this opportunity! Looking forward to connecting with these amazing leaders! πŸ₯°πŸ₯³πŸŽ‰ Please register below and let’s connect so we can bridge the achievement gap together! hashtag#drindiawhite hashtag#ncsm hashtag#grit hashtag#math hashtag#teachers
More Posts
Share by: