Capstone ProjectPeggy McNash

Woodward Academy May

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!