Comments from Students and Teachers

"My students enjoy the activities and the way we approach each unit. I have enjoyed teaching Algebra more now than ever.

Some of their comments are:

'It's fun.'

'They get it now'

'Algebra is easy.'"

- Veronica Gutierrez, Math Teacher, Mathis, Texas

Last year I had no idea what I was doing and I pretty much failed every test and quiz. This year I haven't failed a single test or quiz, so I'm happy we began learning Algebra in this exciting new way.

-Brittney R., 10th Grade Student

I like putting the lessons from math and using our creativity to better understand the main concepts of those lessons.

- Brittany G., student

Before 4MAT I focused almost exclusively on one mode of instructional delivery. I could lecture with the best of them and reaching my analytical kids was my real focus! I never had time to consider one of my student's most common complaints: "When are we ever going to use this?"

- Kim H., Veteran Algebra Teacher

Comments from a Recent Training in Yonkers Public Schools (New York)

How would you rate the overall quality of this session?
96.5% Excellent
3.5% Good

Most useful

• Connecting lessons to student life
• Internet options
• Do the actual activities – to experience how it works and then made the connections
  ourselves.
• Everything he explained and demonstrated can increase student learning/achievement
• 4MAT method as it applies to mathematics
• The natural learning cycle.
• Project idea/Hook ideas
• Concepts, connects, alternatives to worksheets.
• The different ideas and/or activities for connecting and application videos, music, etc.
• The entire program.
• All of it – seriously.
• How to engage the students by appropriate activity.
• Connect – celebrate.
• All of it.
• It put everything together for me into one big pot instead of a lot of small ones
• 4MAT lessons on Algebra
• All of it – especially the Connects
• I am now more comfortable explaining the purpose and relevance of projects to participants
• Everything
• Actually going through the units
• Connect activities and overall ideas to start with
• All the activities that can be used to excite the students make connections 

Would you recommend this seminar to your colleagues?

100% - Yes

Additional Comments

• The program was great and highly motivated
• It was very informative and worthwhile to enhance teaching
• It would help motivate and engage students
• I wish my colleague was here so we could implement this together
• Interactive and engaging method to teach
• 4MAT is a brilliant way to give students purposeful learning

Comments from a Recent Training sponsored by the New Jersey DOE

• Quality: 86%, excellent, 13% good
• Relevance: 72% "Extremely", 27% "Very"
• Would you recommend to peers? 100%, yes
• Do you plan to use these ideas in your classroom? 100%, yes
• Program has relevance to my work with students: 90% strongly agree, 10% agree
• The program provides skills and knowledge to improve teaching: 90% strongly agree, 10% agree
• The program can be used to improve student performance: 77% strongly agree, 22% agree

Individual Comments, "Most Useful"

Most useful:

• The activities and the hook/connects (6 mentions)
• The activities (3 mentioins)
• The projects for learning/new project ideas (2 mentions)
• The student books.  (2 mentions)
• I found this entire workshop very helpful.
• Everything
• The books were most useful to me.
• The hands-on activities and the extensive insight into the types of learners (Day One).
• I always need new ideas for projects and opening unit activities and this really helped.
• Alternative Assessments
• Going through the practical examples of activities
• The 4MAT Circle and examples. I will definitely use this in my classroom.
• Day One on the brain and the types of learners.
• The Personality Analysis (this is done on Day One)
• The real world connections are rather simple and will be easy to present to my class.
• Introductory Activities
• Connections to the real world and the projects
• The kinesthetic exercises.
• Flexibility of use of entire program. Application of approach
• to teach other courses—organization.
• I really found the entire presentation useful from Dick and Colleen.
• I will use most of what I heard and learned.
• Activites and projects aligned to key algebra concepts.
• Relating the math to student's lives. Hook activities and projects. 

 Additional Comments

• It is easy to follow.
• Every little bit helps—and this is a lotta bit.
• Excellent teaching model that catches the interest of most students.
• I think that teaching math this way will prove its relevance to all!
• Very valuable.
• Very useful for all subjects.
• It helps the teacher to "think" essential questions and to see the major concepts. A course instead of isolated skill topics.
• It is different from normal teaching and students will be more interested in paying attention
• I teach those who don't care—or that think they "can't"
• I would gradually implement this program into my classroom.
• This is exactly what I have wanted to try!
• I think it will help my struggling students.
• I spend too much time lecturing in front of the classroom, because that is how I learn best.
• I want to appeal to all different types of students in my class.
• Because it is a great program
• This was truly an eye-opener.
• Because I think it will engage my students
• It will improve kids' attitudes towards Algebra. More kids will fall in love with math if I use this approach.
• Because it is experiential as opposed to lecture and paper practice.