Professional Learning Models to Support Student Success in Mathematics

As research uncovers effective approaches to teaching mathematics, how can professional development efforts support teachers in bringing this research into their classrooms? This is a key question for teachers and leaders in the five Virginia divisions that make up the REL Appalachia (REL AP) Student Success in Mathematics partnership (SSMP). The SSMP is focused on supporting Virginia teachers in using evidence-based mathematics instruction in their classrooms, with goal of increasing students' readiness for algebra I and opening doors for future high school, postsecondary, and workforce success.^{1 2} To support this goal, the partnership launched the Professional Learning Models (PLMs) for Success in Mathematics project to assist the SSMP divisions in designing and carrying out evidenced-based professional development to improve mathematics teaching and learning.

Effective Professional Learning Models

A PLM is a set of teacher professional development activities designed to support teachers' learning of effective teaching practices. Teacher professional development activities with specific characteristics, including use of models and modeling of practices, collaboration in job-embedded contexts, and opportunities for feedback and reflection, have been shown to have positive associations with student achievement.³ In addition to providing effective supports for teacher learning, an effective PLM for mathematics focuses on evidence-based teaching practices, such as facilitating meaningful mathematical discourse and implementing tasks that promote reasoning.⁴

Effective PLMs situate professional development in local contexts, attend to teacher knowledge and beliefs, and keep a focus on student learning goals.⁵ Developing a PLM entails committing to a vision and standards, analyzing student learning and other data, setting goals, planning, implementing, and evaluating results.⁶

As facilitators plan for and teachers engage in professional learning opportunities, it is important to go through cycles of data collection and analysis. To this end, we are engaging a Plan Do Study Act cycle. The SSMP adopted this cycle as a key part of the conceptual framework for the PLM project (Figure 1).⁷ The cycle begins with planning for and implementing the professional development—the Plan and Do steps—followed by collecting and analyzing data, which is the Study step. The final Act step involves reflecting on the data and making revisions in order to refine the PLMs by applying lessons learned.

Figure 1. Conceptual framework of the PLMs for the SSM project.

During the first phase of the PLM project, REL AP staff worked with SSMP core members to identify critical issues affecting PLMs in their local division contexts. SSMP core members met with leading experts in mathematics professional learning who provided insights into instructional coaching in mathematics and on equity issues in mathematics education. On coaching, one SSMP member shared that the experts' insights were “extremely helpful to understand better how coaches can provide teachers opportunities for them to learn and develop more ambitious teaching practices.” Phase II of the PLM project is currently in progress. It is focused on planning and implementing the PLMs.

Resources on effective PLMs

Interested in learning more about effective professional development practices that support student success in mathematics? Check out these resources.

• Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 through 8. The recommendations in this WWC practice guide are based on expert panel evaluation of the evidence base for each recommendation. It is geared towards teachers, math coaches, and other educators.
• Reviewing the evidence on how teacher professional development affects student achievement. This report provides a review of the research base on the impact of teacher professional development on student achievement.
• Improving Instruction Through Professional Learning Communities Infographic This resource by REL Southeast provides information for school and district leaders, math coaches, and other education leaders interested in improving instruction by starting or supporting Professional Learning Communities.
• Professional Learning Communities Facilitator's Guide. This guide by REL Southwest is designed to support educators in applying the evidence-based strategies in the Teaching Academic Content and Literacy to English Learners in Elementary and Middle School educator's practice guide.
• Effective Teacher Development. This report provides a review of 35 research studies to identify key features of effective teacher professional development.
• Principles to Action. This excerpt from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Principles to Action, offers an executive summary of the six guiding principles identified as essential features of high-quality mathematics instruction.