The Lana Learn team is implementing High-Impact Tutoring in biology classes at H.D. Woodson Senior High School in Washington, DC.
Lana Learn’s High-Impact Tutoring (HIT) program kicked off last month, and the team is in full swing at our partner schools. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in Washington, D.C. funds and oversees this program. It will help approximately 315 freshmen fill in academic gaps that were widened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on to find out how Lana Learn Academic Coach, Tatianna, is implementing high-impact tutoring at H.D. Woodson Senior High School.
Working with the 9th-grade biology scholars at H.D. Woodson Senior High School has been such a pleasure. The scholars are bright, inquisitive, and always keep me on my toes. Recently, I have been assisting them with constructing a CER (claim, evidence, reasoning) response. We’ve also been working on building their logic skills by palying checkers during “mental health breaks.”
Working within the classroom has given me the opportunity to start developing genuine relationships with the scholars. These relationships allow me to see where they are in terms of understanding course content. It also shows me how I might be able to effectively help them on an individual or small-group level.
Throughout the short time I have been at H.D. Woodson, the scholars have been learning about DNA, genetics, and heredity. Give it up for Gregor Mendel and his pea plants, everyone! In one class, their teacher set up a strawberry DNA extraction lab for them to complete. This lab was an awesome way for the scholars to visualize what DNA can look like and how all living things have DNA, including humans! It was a joy to be a part of and to watch the students get excited about the results of their experiment.
As my time continues at Woodson, I wish to incorporate many hands-on activities in our HIT sessions for the scholars to connect what they are learning in biology class to their daily lives. As we all know, science is everywhere!