capstone project

Capstone ProjectPeggy McNashWoodward AcademyMay 2013

Brain Cohort of E.E. Ford at Center For Teaching Westminster Schools, Atlanta

Question? Will guided breathing and instruction

on the fixed-growth mindset improve the time-on-task rates and the completion rates for students in Writers Workshop CP class?

http://www.stopandbreathe.org/images/StopandBreatheLogo.jpg

Guided Breathing, Focused Attention

Thanks to Nneka Robinson who taped the class.

Dweck's Fixed-Growth Mindset

The key, Dweck found, isn’t ability; it’s whether you look at ability as something

inherent that needs to be demonstrated or as something that can be developed.

Adapted from

http://michaelgr.co

m/2007/04/15/fixe

d-mindset-vs-

growth-mindset-

which-one-are-

you/.

http://www.thoughtfullearning.com/sites/default/files/blogpost/images/mindset.jpg

Data

Quantitative: • Improvement SAT prompts• Fewer off-task behaviors; more on-

task behaviors • Improved completion rates

Data

Qualitative:• Observer--Lynn Robinson--felt

students were more focused post-intervention, even more so than 7 percent decrease in off-task behavior indicated.

• Student perception of completion rates

• Student perception of efficacy of guided breathing

Qualitative Data (self-reported):

8% more 7% fewer

1% fewer

Qualitative Data (self-reported):

• 9 of 17 reported breathing exercises helped them focus and improve their time on task and completion rates.

• 8 of 17 reported breathing exercises did not improve their focus, their time on task, or their completion rates.

Two Student Comments:"I believe the breathing does help. It

helps to cool me down and get my mind focused. An area I have used breathing is during track meets before I am about to run to get my mind focused on the race." File link

"I think the breathing just distracted me. For some people it could help them a great deal to recognize that it's time to work and focus, but for me it just kind of distracts me." Wiki Link

Opportunities to Share!

• Mentor-Intern January 2013 Woodward Academy, College Park, Georgia(on mini project)

Next Presentations!

• Delta Kappa Gamma SE Regional Conference, July 2013 Orlando, "Using What Sisters Know about the Brain to Support Early Educators and Grow Chapters."

• GISA Conference: The Transformative Power of Education, November 2013, Woodward Academy, College Park.Co-presenter with two other WA Brain Cohort Members from 2011 and 2012 groups.

Happy Learning, Period E!