Week 5 Reflection

Data collection reviews can be fun to read!  It was fascinating to experience the unfolding of answers to questions.  I learned so much this week!

I followed up with Tiffany’s proposal review.  She has an interesting question about technology.  She is working with first graders on technology integration.  In my first grade, I find myself very often frustrated with technology.  I’m hoping to get some new ideas from her study. 

Courtney is doing a study on increasing oral and listening skills.  I feel passionate about this topic.  As a first grade teacher I have seen the impact the lack of these skills can have on reading, writing, social skills, and many other areas.  She is studying a very important topic.  I enjoyed reviewing her proposal.

I really enjoyed Lenore’s blog. She does a great job of sharing new information.  I was interested in her work on informational texts.  I was in a bookstore the other day looking for informational texts and found very few.  Her research is bringing this issue more to my mind.  Hopefully, the market will respond to the changes in standards and we will be able to find more great material.

I found Barbara’s blog inspiring.  I especially appreciated the link to the site on embedding technology in literacy instruction.  It’s important to connect our technology use to legitimate learning goals.  Too many times we use technology to teach about technology.  This has some value to the students but very often isn’t related to a standard that the children need to be taught.  I love technology that is integrated with learning across standards and goal topics. 

Tiffany’s blog post made me chuckle.  She described two different mindsets when children come to problems while using technology.  “One says, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with this, but I bet I can figure it out.’  While the other says, “This isn’t working.  It must be broken.  YOU fix it”.  I though that was a universally true observation.  I could picture my mom, who thinks everything is broken and throws it out to buy a new one and my teenager who thinks he can fix absolutely everything.

Aside from my comments, I was able to offer a few things myself.  I brought up a topic in my data collection piece, about the distractions caused by adults that interrupt learning in the classroom.  Several people related to this problem.  One had the great idea of putting a sandwich board outside the classroom during reading block to warn grown-ups before they come into the classroom.  I think I will try this!

Essential question:  What am I finding as I collect data?

My first data collection tool is an assessment of students' reading skills.  This week I completed the pre-test portion of the assessment using a reading fluency assessment.  The children’s score were the baseline for my goal of documenting progress during our use of "The Daily Five".  Testing went well and I felt like the results were consistent with what I had observed in the classroom.

My second data collection method involves interval observation during reading groups.  My goal is to observe the class at large in ten-minute intervals to see if they are engaged in their work.  This week I used a timer set to remind me to do a quick observation while I’m engaged with reading groups.  I’m also keeping tally marks counting the amount of redirection needed to keep students engaged. 

My third data collection method will be a student interview done toward the end of our three-week data collection time.  My goal is to determine how well the children like the program and how motivated they feel. 

So far, I’m finding that my students are very engaged in their literacy program.  Our reading groups have been able to go on nearly without interruption.  Redirections are at a minimum and the children love being able to choose what they are going to do within The Daily Five program. 

I found some unexpected things. I was amazed by the amount of disruption caused by adults.  I’ve been annoyed by this in the past, but doing data on children seemed to shine the spotlight on the grown-ups.  I made more stops in reading groups to deal with adults, than I did with the other students.  This gives me ideas for future studies. 

I enjoyed the twitter chat this week.  Several people had great ideas about websites designed to create surveys.  We have a lot of really brilliant people in our class!