Burton Networked Improvement Community (BNIC)
Over three years ago the Tulare County Office of Education received a grant from the Gates Foundation. With the money they established a networked improvement community (NIC) focused on improving math practices. A number of school districts in Tulare County were involved. Burton was one of them. The original three school sites, now four, have seen growth in student understanding and achievement. Because of the success our schools who participated in the Central Valley Networked Improvement Community, the county's grant-funded improvement community, we are expanding that work across all of our school sites. This page is intended to provide you with some background, including a number of resources, to explore. It is our hope that you will review an article or two and watch a couple of videos so that you have a greater sense of what Burton Networked Improvement Community (BNIC) is, and the work we will all be participating in this fall.
One of the major lessons of the county's work was the realization that cultivating a growth mindset among students was instrumental to their success. We have embraced that lesson, and will begin the work of our district NIC, our BNIC, by focusing on growth mindset, and mathematical mindset.
One of the major lessons of the county's work was the realization that cultivating a growth mindset among students was instrumental to their success. We have embraced that lesson, and will begin the work of our district NIC, our BNIC, by focusing on growth mindset, and mathematical mindset.
If you only look at one thing...
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If you only have time to look at one thing this summer in preparation for our work next year, we think you should look at the the Five Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions. This book will give a solid foundation in the work of our Networked Improvement Community.
You can preview some of the book by clicking the links below... Additionally, if you would like to read up on the five math practices but don't have time for the whole book, this article provides a good overview. Orchestrating Discussions |
Mathematical Mindset / Growth Mindset Resources
Mathematical / Growth Mindset Videos
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These are two short videos that provide some background on mathematical and growth mindset. In addition to these videos, we will be uploading clip from this summer's Ignite Math Boot Camp that illustrate the point these two videos make.
Mathematical / Growth Mindset Articles and Books
- Mindset Works - This is a website maintained by Carol Dweck that provides background on growth mindset.
- YouCubed: Mathematical Mindset - This is a website maintained by Jo Boaler that provides background on mathematical mindset.
If you would like more information, you may be interested in reading the following books:
- Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler
- Mindset by Carol Dweck
- Unlocking Children's Math Potential: Five Research Results to Transform Math Learning by Jo Boaler
Networked Improvement Community Resources
We've gathered together several articles that explain the Networked Improvement Community concept, philosophical underpinnings, and ultimate aims.
- The Six Core Principles of Improvement - This article outlines the principles that guide the work of Networked Improvement Communities.
- Why a NIC? - This article explains why the Networked Improvement Community model is effective, and why we should embrace it.
If you would like more information, you may be interested in reading the following books:
- Learning to Improve: How Americas Schools Can Get Better at Getting Better by Anthony Bryk, Louis M. Gomez, Alicia Grunow, and Paul G. LeMahieu