The Power of Student Teams: Achieving Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Learning in Every Classroom Through Academic Teaming

by Michael D. Toth, David A. Sousa

The Brain that Does the Work is the Brain that Learns. In many classrooms, the teacher's role is to talk and the student's role is to listen. Whose brain is doing most of the work in this scenario? Authors Michael D. Toth and David A. Sousa present an a new pedagogical model called student-led academic teaming. In academic teams, students collaborate, peer coach, and peer teach while engaging in rigorous, standards-based tasks a combination that leads to true social, emotional, and cognitive learning (SECL). The evidence to support the power of student teams
A groundbreaking 10,000-student research study on a large urban district
Neuroscience and other scientific research
Experiences from superintendents, school leaders, teachers, and students from dozens of demonstration schools around the country
Connections to social-emotional skills, 21st century skills, growth mindset, student engagement, student behavior, and equity and access
Student-led academic teaming takes familiar grouping strategies to the next level, providing a path to success for every student, in every classroom, in every school; This is the last major school reform you will ever have to make.

Genres: Education, Teaching

172 pages, Paperback

Published May 29, 2019

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is ok. It’s easy to follow and understand. I even really like the ideas that it proposes. It’s just difficult to conceptualize how it could be put into practice in a post pandemic educational world when students are struggling so much and need so much help catching up.

[Amber McCormick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written like an MLM scheme to make school districts think their teachers aren’t doing enough already. I personally know somebody that works in the Des Moines Public School District in a school mentioned in chapter 4, and they stopped using this after Covid. The data may be real, but the expectations this system creates is unrealistic in today’s post-Covid public schools. It is another micromanaging tool that makes teachers feel like their hands are tied instead of a tool they can pick from when it fits what is being taught. This system was also created without considering what modern curriculum school districts use/require. Overall, it is a tool that teachers could use when it fits, but should never be an all-or-nothing expectation.

[Emily Humes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for a school book club. Unless you’re a teacher and your school is using LSI, this isn’t going to be particularly helpful.

[Diane Stultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I consult for the company that Michael Toth (the author) leads... However, I would still give this book a high rating!
My colleagues and I did a book study on this book, since many of us are "grounded" due to the Covid 19 virus.
If you are an educator looking for innovative ways to incorporate SEL skills into high level cognitive tasks for students...this is your book!
"The brain that does the work is the brain that learns"
The book examines:
- The difference between student groups and student teams
-The neuroscience the supports Academic Teaming
-The evolution of teacher-led classrooms to teacher-led student groups to student-led academic teams
-Transformation of student and teacher roles
-Second order change needed to make this happen
-How to implement high-functioning Academic Teams
- The compelling rationale for Academic Teams
There are many helpful charts/graphs/appendix items/and testimonials from teachers and leaders who are implementing this work.
I think it would make a good chapter by chapter book study for both teachers and school leaders.

[Kristine Milburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides an overview of student-led academic teams as well as scenarios of how the strategy works in schools.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book explains why academic teaming is beneficial, but it does not explain how to set it up or implement it.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of reasons why student teams are great…not a lot of practical steps for implementing student teams.

[Laraf123 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for us.