SOMA Living August 2021

EDUCATION When I am trying to make a particular point with one of our students, I will tell them I’m coming to their high school or college graduation (and I will and have done so). Just yesterday during our Brain Zone camp, I said to one of my students “If I walk up to you at your graduation and ask you to find the greatest common factor of 16, 24, and 72 you had better flip your diploma over and work it out correctly on the back!” She looked a bit perplexed but went back to practicing the GCF work in front of her—focusing on the step-by-step process I had showed her. I encouraged her throughout our session to “Do the math. Do not skip steps. Show your work. Work out the problems. Think about what you are finding and why multiplying the common factors found makes sense to then generate the greatest common factor. If you follow the steps and think about what it means, you will never forget how to do it. You’ve got to do the work, hon.” The high standards we hold for and the rigor with which we teach our students are not necessarily the norm in their lives. My camps are filled with black boys this summer. They are the most “written off” category of student, but we will never write them or any of our students off, because we know they can learn and master this content. We have had success bringing any student to or above grade level. Our expectations are high because we know they can learn, with our support. At my Best in Class Education Center, we do not stand for less than mastery for any of our students, because less than mastery leaves gaps in student learning that just grow over time ultimately hinder their success, and that is not ok with us. My staff and I are committed to and believe in the ability of our students to learn and master the math and English concepts we teach them. We do not step over misunderstandings. We instruct and we correct. We review, and look for new ways to teach, and most of all we practice until concepts are understood. The steps matter. The particles matter. Deep learning is important to us, and it is more important for the children we work with. Their lives are in the balance and that matters most to us. Best in Class Education Center invites you to take advantage of our complimentary math and English assessments for rising 1st to 8th graders online at www.bicedu.com/south-orange with no obligation. Dr. Alissa Gardenhire is the owner of Best in Class Education Center, named one of the three best tutoring centers in the region by 3 Best Rated dot com. Copyright 2021 © Dr. Alissa Gardenhire and Kids Win, Inc.

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AUGUST 2021 | SOMA LIVING 21

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