Meeting Individual Needs in Math
- Joshua Smith, Piqua High School
“Mrs. Koth is an amazing, caring, hardworking teacher who never gives up on a student.”
-Joshua Smith
Mrs. Jean Koth has devoted her entire career to teaching students who need her. She has always worked with struggling math students at Piqua High School because she knows she has the ability and the personality to help them. Her personal goal is to make sure she finds a way to reach and teach every single one of them.
Mrs. Koth enjoys finding new ways to ensure all students learn. On any given day, her students work on various lessons based on individual needs. She is able to teach across a range of competencies, demonstrating an amazing ability to differentiate within a single class period. She designed a freshman algebra block class, spending countless hours creating a flipped classroom environment. Students in her class take daily quizzes to show mastery of the skills from the day’s lesson. If they are not ready to demonstrate proficiency, as measured by 80 percent on these quizzes, she offers further support and allows them additional time to continue practicing the skills. She loves teaching this way because it allows her to work with students one-on-one, moving them forward only after they have mastered the content. This builds student confidence and allows them to learn at their own pace until they can demonstrate readiness to move on. This is one way Mrs. Koth ensures all students succeed without holding any student back based on where the class is on a given day.
Recently, Mrs. Koth piloted a project-based approach to teaching Algebra II where students achieve state standards while applying mathematics to real-world situations. Her creative approach to this class enables students to learn content in a way that is more meaningful and memorable to them. She has enjoyed teaching this class immensely.
Mrs. Koth is a highly devoted individual who is constantly trying to improve her craft. She has one of the highest, if not the highest, growth-added scores in the district. Not only do her colleagues think she is an amazing teacher, but her students do too. It is very common to hear them express how helpful she is at making math interesting and engaging, frequently saying, "This is the first math class I have liked in forever."
Testaments from her students are Mrs. Koth's real achievement but being awarded an honor like this one would brighten her day beyond belief.
Keep being you Mrs. Koth!
Teachers Honor Teachers
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation launched a new program last fall inviting teachers to recognize a colleague they know is doing exceptional work in the classroom.
In the above post, Joshua Smith expresses his admiration for fellow teacher, Jean Koth. Thank you to both educators for your dedication to students and for taking the time to showcase what it means to deliver challenging, innovative, and student-centered lessons that result in powerful and deep learning.
Through the Teachers Honor Teachers Program, The Foundation is seeking Ohio public school teachers to share great things about a teaching colleague in an Ohio public school that ensures deep learning for students. If we choose to post your story, we will award $500 toward that teacher's classroom for their great work and $500 toward your classroom for honoring their excellence. Apply here.