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You are Only As Great As Your Help to Others! – Pay it Forward!

Admin • Jul 19, 2017

As I read multiple abstracts, dissertations and etc. as an educational leader, I realize that my efforts can all be summed up into the mere fact that I exist simply to help others . Reading about the expulsion “Zero Tolerance” policy that’s been implemented in schools has helped me to understand that there is an ongoing need in schools across the nation to help the future generation.

On the other hand, I also realize that I can’t just point out the deficit that our nation faces; I must serve as a soldier for the sake of education, fighting a battle of poverty, injustice and poor decision making from our youth. I know that I can’t do it alone; I must work with a team who has a heart that beats to see the best for our students.

I stop and think of my life and my struggle of homelessness during adolescence beyond my control. The only way I was able to strive through that dark chapter was by the help of the community which consisted of caring teachers and a caring mentor who I now call “Mama Sharon.” If it weren’t for people like Mama Sharon and my teachers, I would have been a mere statistic. The possibilities are limitless as to what dread my life could have turned out to be and the many facets of danger I was spared from by the grace of God.

However, there are other “Indias” and young scholars out there who fall prey to unfortunate circumstances as they study towards obtaining a higher education. Sometimes, they misunderstand cultural appropriation and end up making choices that they can never erase from their record. Seeing that these situations are sensitive and real, we as leaders, whether stakeholders, educational leaders, voices of influence in secular or spiritual realm must MAKE A CHOICE to pay it forward and help the next generation. There is only so much “glory” that comes from a successful person who never reaches back and extends a helping hand to a younger soul who is trying to figure it out in this BIG world .

Hence, I want to encourage you as well as myself, to be greater men and women than what we are. Let’s reach out and help someone else. Honestly, we are only as great as how far we reach out to help others. Think about it: Why was Mother Theresa revered so much? It’s because she GAVE her ALL to everyone else no matter what it cost her. She was unselfish about how much she gave. She didn’t complain about the PROCESS that she endured while helping out; she just buckled down and made success and comfort happen for others while sacrificing her own sense of convenience.

It’s time for the leaders of our nation to rise up and pay it forward! Whether we decide to mentor, contribute financially, provide direction in a career path, or more, we are needed in this hour. We must not forsake our responsibility to give back to others; for this is necessary for everyone who strives to be greater than they are.

If I could say it with all of the passion that lies within me to you as you read this: We need your hand extended so our future can succeed. If not, we will all suffer in some fashion or another. My heart yearns for the success of our nation, which lies on the shoulders of the future scholars. Please don’t think that your voice doesn’t matter or your sense of influence is dim. You never know whose fire you are able to spark or who is waiting to run with the torch that you’ve carried effectively for so long.

Let’s make a decision to help the future generations into success! We are needed, and as a nation, we can only accomplish this task together as we push our future scholars into their destiny.

Thanks for letting me share. Let’s become great together as we extend a helping hand to others!

By India White 03 May, 2024
Join us on the Grit and Equity Talks Podcast with Dr. India White, where we will discuss spaced vs. mass practice for teachers! Visit www.india-white.com for more information #drindiawhite #grit #equity
By India White 03 May, 2024
🥳As the opening keynote at the WMC Annual conference, I had the opportunity to discuss equitable math practices with teachers. I am grateful to have gifted 30 copies of the Equity Counts book collaboration after my session! 🤩Thanks to Savvas Learning Company for making this happen🥰. The best is yet to come for Wisconsin teachers and students! #EquitableMath #Education #EquityCounts #savvas #drindiawhite #tedx #equity #WisconsinTeachers #StudentSuccess #wismath24 #nctm #ncsm… See more — at On Green Lake in Wisconsin.
By India White 02 May, 2024
Hanging out wit the tribe! I had the honor of being the opening keynote speaker at @WisMathCouncil 🤩 We applied the concept of grit in their classroom! Thanks to @SavvasLearning!! #drindiawhite #math #grit #student #teachers @wismathcouncil #wismath24 #SAVVAS #nctm #ncsm #bwxme
By India White 02 May, 2024
This morning, I had the honor of being the opening keynote speaker at WMC's Annual Math Conference. 🤩The conference was a great success, with attendees discussing the importance of grit in both teachers and students. I’m excited to see Wisconsin teachers apply the concept of grit in their classrooms and help their students develop this crucial! Thanks to Savvas Learning Company for the support and encouragement!! #drindiawhite #math #grit #student #teachers @wismathcouncil #wismath24 #SAVVAS #nctm #ncsm #bwxme
By India White 02 May, 2024
‼️Attention all Wisconsin teachers! Are you ready to enhance your teaching skills and help your students develop their grit😃? If so, don't miss out on the opportunity to purchase my Grit Workbook at a discounted price! 🤗I have 50 copies available at WMC, so come and grab your copy this week🤩! #wismath2024 #nctm #ncsm #drindiawhite #grit #education #students #teachers #wismath2024 #nctm #ncsm #drindiawhite #grit #education #students #teachers
By India White 02 May, 2024
The Wisconsin Math Conference is just around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited to participate! As the opening keynote speaker, I'll be discussing the importance of equity in education and providing practical tips for fostering inclusive classrooms. If you're a teacher attending the conference, be sure to stop by my session and say hello! And don't miss out on the opportunity to grab a signed copy of my book while you're there.#drindiawhite #tedx #equity #wismath2024 #education #students #teachers #NCSM #NCTM #bwxme #teachersofwisconsin #wisconsinmath
By India White 29 Apr, 2024
🥳Super excited to connect with some amazing teachers and leaders in Wisconsin this week! 🤗Together, we'll be discussing the importance of grit, equitable practices, and closing the achievement gap🥰. As we all know, we are better together! Make time for one of my sessions and let’s have a good time! 😎Looking forward to sharing insights and learning from each other. #teachersofwisconsin #leadership #education #togetherwecan #achievementgap #equity #grit #drindiawhite #wmc2024 #wmc #nctm #ncsm #bwxme #bbamath #tedx #students #teachers
By India White 29 Apr, 2024
Enhancing Learning in the Math Classroom: Effective Strategies for Implementing Spaced vs. Mass Practice- Dr. India White In the field of education, particularly in mathematics instruction, the debate between spaced and mass practice has long been a topic of interest. Spaced practice , which is distinguished by distributing lessons on a particular benchmark or concept for students over time in the classroom, has been shown to enhance retention and transfer of knowledge compared to massed practice, which involves concentrated study sessions. This blog will explore the significance of spaced versus mass practice in the mathematics classroom and offers practical tips for teachers to leverage these techniques effectively. Through various research on teaching practices and cognitive research , we will take a look at the advantages of spaced practice in promoting long-term retention and deep understanding of mathematical concepts. We will discuss three strategies all teachers can take advantage of when implementing spaced practice effectively which will help maximize student learning outcomes in their math classroom. We will also explore methods that will help teachers with actionable tips for integrating spaced practice into their mathematics classrooms in an effort to optimize student learning and achievement. Strategy # 1: Find Clever Ways to Utilize Interleaved Practice Interleaved practice is when you as the educator mix different types of problems or concepts within the same study session. Rather than focusing exclusively on a single topic during a study session, interleaving requires your students to switch between various topics or problem types. In the math classroom, teachers can implement interleaved practice by incorporating a variety of problem types or mathematical concepts into homework assignments, quizzes, and class activities. For instance, instead of assigning a “block of exercises” solely focused on linear equations, teachers can combine problems related to linear equations, quadratic equations, and geometric concepts for homework. This approach challenges students to discern the appropriate problem-solving strategies for different contexts, leading to digger deeper into conceptual understanding and improved retention. When educators implement interleaved practice into their instructional practice, it disrupts the tendency for students to rely on rote memorization or procedural fluency by requiring them to continuously retrieve and apply knowledge from different domains. This process strengthens connections between related concepts and promotes flexible problem-solving skills. By incorporating interleaved practice into mathematics instruction, teachers facilitate the transfer of learning across diverse contexts and foster a more robust understanding of mathematical principles and standards addressed during their learning experience. Strategy # 2: Reinforce Memory Retention through “Spaced Retrieval” Activities Spaced retrieval activities allows a teacher to systematically revisit previously learned material at spaced intervals to reinforce memory retention from their students . This can be implemented through various activities including review sessions, quizzes, or within digital platforms that schedule practice problems based on spaced repetition. For example, this happens when teachers choose to dedicate a portion of each of their classes to review concepts covered in previous lessons through brief quizzes or interactive problem-solving tasks. Additionally, teachers can provide students with spaced retrieval practice materials, such as flashcards or online quizzes, to reinforce learning outside of the classroom. Spaced retrieval implemented in the classroom leverages the psychological phenomenon known as the spacing effect, which shows teachers that information is better retained when content from their lessons on a particular topic are distributed over time rather than massed together. By spacing out practice sessions that help students to recall information they’ve already covered in class, teachers enhance their ability to retain information and as a result, support and promote long-term retention of mathematical concepts. Furthermore, implementing spaced retrieval activities helps teachers to remain proactive against the reality that concepts covered in the math classroom can gradually be lost over time without reinforcement, ensuring that students can retain mastery of essential mathematical skills. Strategy # 3: Foster Metacognitive Awareness for All Students Metacognitive awareness when students develop an understanding of their own learning processes and strategies needed for proficiency in their math class. Teachers can support this by explicitly teaching their students about the benefits of spaced practice and encouraging them to reflect on their study habits and learning outcomes. Further, teachers can engage students in metacognitive discussions by encouraging them to reflect on their different studying techniques, help them to identify areas of strength and weakness, and assist their students in setting specific goals for improvement. Additionally, teachers can provide students with opportunities to monitor their own learning progress through self-assessment activities and reflective journaling and through gritty practices. When teachers cultivate metacognitive awareness during instructional delivery, they empower students to take ownership of their learning and make informed decisions about their study habits. Students who understand the benefits of spaced practice are more likely to engage in deliberate, strategic learning behaviors and actively seek out opportunities for spaced retrieval and interleaved practice. Furthermore, metacognitive awareness enhances students' ability to regulate their learning process, and change study habits so that they can remain gritty and persevere in the face of academic challenges. Ultimately, by fostering metacognitive awareness in the mathematics classroom, teachers equip students with the tools they need to become lifelong learners and proficient problem solvers. Conclusion Effective implementation of spaced versus mass practice techniques is crucial for all teachers desiring to maximize the learning outcomes in the mathematics classroom. Through interleaved practice, spaced retrieval activities, and fostering metacognitive awareness, teachers can create an environment conducive to conceptual understanding and long-term retention of concepts discussed in the math classroom. These strategies not only enhance students' proficiency in mathematics but also cultivate essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-regulated learning. As educators strive to meet the diverse needs of their students, integrating spaced practice techniques into mathematics instruction offers a promising pathway toward academic excellence and student success.
By India White 24 Apr, 2024
I'm thrilled and deeply grateful to ICTM for providing me with the opportunity to speak today about Equity in Action and Equitable Math Practices for educators. It's an honor to share insights and strategies aimed at fostering inclusivity and fairness in mathematics education. I'm eager to hear the testimonials from fellow educators and learn how they are implementing this information to bridge the achievement gap. Together, we can work towards creating a more equitable and empowering learning environment for all students.
By India White 23 Apr, 2024
🌟🎓 A teacher's testimonial from an Equity Session with Dr. India White! As a National Education Consultant, TEDxSpeaker, and Author I will continue to join teachers as we make waves in the education world. Check out my website for more information on how I’m helping teachers and students alike! ➡️ www.india-white.com 😁🥰 #drindiawhite #mctm #equity #math #teachers #teachersoftiktok #foryou #education #nctm #ncsm #bwxme 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLaUvL8D/
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