Case Study: Mastery-based, Trauma-informed Instruction

Cloverdale teachers recognize the impact of trauma and toxic stress on their community, their students, and themselves. The importance of relationships cannot be over-stated to foster a healing environment. To truly develop learning partnerships in the classroom, it is necessary to know who you are as a teacher and who your students are personally. This knowledge is foundational for creating culturally responsive teaching practices, so we had all students - and all teachers - take the MindPrint assessment.

MindPrint was the tool that united Cloverdale teachers in understanding and empathy. Teachers had to examine their learner profiles and consider how their own learning preferences and strategies might influence their teaching practices. They had to consider whether they were only reaching students who look like them or learn like them and what they need to do differently so all students can learn to their potential. Teachers never had professional development like this before and some were initially resistant, but it was vital to changing the culture.

Next, all students took the MindPrint assessment. We looked at the students' MindPrint data and NWEA MAP achievement data with Cloverdale teachers as a team. For some teachers it was hard to go beyond the narrative they had about certain students. They had opinions about kids that were hard to let go, but the MindPrint data don't lie. If capable students aren't succeeding, we need to collectively ask ourselves what we as adults need to do differently. MindPrint laid the groundwork for teachers to truly believe that students can live up to high expectations.