Sunday Reflection.

What I shared this week:

I shared some information about using a narration log.  It’s been helpful to me to jot down notes each day along with my formal observation.  The daily narration has been very helpful in noticing trends that I didn’t set out to observe.  I’m learning things along the way that I wasn’t searching for.  The serendipitous knowledge has been as important to me as the knowledge I set out for.

Tiffany had an interesting comment on my blog.  She wondered if technology could be used with The Daily Five.  Her questions made me think about it's applications.  I think it could be very effective in the "listen to reading mode", or the "work on writing" mode.  In first grade though, we struggle so much with operating the technology that I don't think children would be independent.  Independence is part of the goal so technology wouldn't be helpful at this stage.  Maybe it will  be useful later in the year as the children mature.

I was able to share information about using bubble.us.  I’m enjoying using that website.

I left an idea about observing in timed intervals for Jon.  He is doing engagement observation like mine.  I feel like using timed intervals has been effective for me and thought that tip might help.

I discovered a fun new website:  Tagxedo.  It makes word clouds in shapes.  I enjoyed playing with that.  I’m thinking it will be fun to include in my research analysis.  It may bring something out that I haven’t seen.  At least it will be a new way to look at my topic.  I enjoyed sharing that this week.

What I learned: 

Tiffany had some fabulous App ideas on her blog.  She described Compound Words Montessori, Text on Pictures, Friendstrip Kids, and Winston Show.  All of these look like awesome apps to use with my first graders.  I can think of several applications for each of them.

From our Twitterfest, I learned some tips for using  Wordle.  I was having a hard time using the website and got some information from my PLN that I think will solve the problem.

I appreciated the recommendations for Mindmeister.com and Diigo.  Those are both new to me and I’m excited to try them out. 

In general, I’ve learned so much from visiting the blogs of classmates.  Each week I’m so impressed with the formats and the content that I see.  It’s given me a lot to aspire to.  I appreciate that.

Next steps:  I have a little more data to gather.  I need to finish post tests and surveys.  I’m hoping to finish that tomorrow.  The I will focus on analysis and writing.  

Essential question:
What am I finding as I share data?
Pre and Post results:  I’ll be doing my post-testing on Monday.  I’m excited to see how my little guys have done over the last three weeks. 

I’ve been surfing the web for ideas on methods for surveying children.  I have my survey ready but I’m not satisfied with it just yet.  I'm wishing that I could see some examples of surveys done with young children.  I'll be forging ahead next week regardless.

Observation:  My observations have been much the same this week.  The consistency of the results I believe illustrates the validity of the results.  I’m satisfied that I have a good read on the amount of engagement happening during our use of The Daily Five.

One trend that I noticed this week is that children love being able to choose what they are going to work on and when they are going to work.  The Daily Five program has children do each of five literacy activities in whatever order they want.  The option of choosing the activity order, has allowed me to see which activities are favorite with which students.  For example, I have noticed that two little ones just love to write and choose that activity first each time.  They are excited to do the writing and spend as much time as they can on it.  These children, who couldn’t write a sentence two months ago, are writing stories with three and four sentences, complete with illustrations.  I’m convinced that the joy they are getting from writing comes partly from having it be their choice.  I would not have noticed this if they were working under a more structured program.  It’s an advantage of giving children a bit more freedom.   I’m reminded that the difference between work and play is choice.  So it is for them.

Next steps:  I’ll finish my data collection by Monday, post-testing and surveys. Then I will full into the analysis and writing.  I’m excited to more to the next phase.