About the Practice
At Bronx Leadership Academy II, we have used our ESI resources to introduce Blue Engine services into specific traditional content-based courses. During Year One, Blue Engine services were used throughout our 9th grade Math and English classes. During Year Two, Blue Engine services expanded into 10th grade Math and English classes as well as continuing their work with 9th grade Math and English classes. Blue Engine is an organization that focuses on enhancing the classroom learning environment for students in order to increase the percentage of students who succeed within each specific course. The Blue Engine method focuses on placing specially trained recent college graduates within the ninth and tenth grade Math and English classes in order to help foster the best learning environment possible. For instance, there are approximately three to four BETA’s (title of specially trained college graduates) assigned to each class. This allows the content teacher, with the assistance of BETA’s, to enrich student learning through small group settings. Classes are divided into smaller groups and each group is assisted by a BETA, who is taking their directions from the content teacher.
Target Population/Total Students:
The target population are the ninth and tenth grade Math and English students. Approximately over 200 students are assisted by the Blue Engine program.
Challenges:
- 10th grade students who learned in a Blue Engine based classroom have had some difficulty transitioning into non-Blue Engine based classes and have struggled not learning in small group settings.
How did school overcome challenges?
The staff at BLAII is multi-talented and through focusing on data have found ways to specifically assist students who have struggled transitioning from a BETA-assisted class to a non-BETA-assisted class.
How did you evaluate that this practice was effective?
As the ninth grade team leader last year I had the opportunity to work closely with the 9th grade content teachers who were BETA assisted. This allowed me to learn how well the program was running, from hearing success stories to overcoming obstacles the class had to overcome. Blue Engine also is very open with sharing their stats and I have been in open communication with the Blue Engine site manager here at BLAII over the past two years.
How will you continue to sustain this practice?
Due to the nature of the funding for Blue Engine I am not sure how this program can be sustained after the ESI grant is over.