The College Try

I recently visited an LGR program, where I observed a Math Coach reviewing a ratio problem with three students. At the end, one student said, "I did it another way." The student briefly explained her approach to the problem, and it was simpler and more efficient than the approach that the coach had presented with the help of one student.

The coach should have recognized the student, who was clearly proud of her accomplishment, and acknowledged her for finding an excellent way to solve the problem. Instead the coach became defensive and tried to explain his approach to the student. The student, not wanting to hear about a more complicated way of doing the problem, said, "You do it the college way." Ouch!

During my site visits, I routinely see coaches explaining things in the "college way.” This coach is not alone.

I wonder what strategies, aside from preparing assiduously (well, that's a college word), coaches have for fighting the temptation to "do it the college way."