The Best Practice idea that has most informed my unit plan is having students teach each other. This extra responsibility for students pushes them to more deeply engage with topics in order to figure out how to best explain them, which will further their own learning as well as that of their peers. By putting students in charge of the classroom, I am signaling to them that I trust and believe in them.

My unit also includes real-world contexts, which help students relate to the math. As students work with different contexts and problems, I will take on the role of a facilitator more than a leader so that my students’ voices, instead of mine, can be at the center of the discussion. In addition, students will work closely with small groups or a partner, which promotes collaboration and teamwork among a heterogeneous student population.