Action Research Proposal : Review

1. Students in kindergarten are having trouble recognizing word families and rhyming words.
2. It is easier for students to read using recognition of word families and rhyming words than using phonics.
3. Playing rhyming games will increase recognition of word families and rhyming words. In turn this will lead to reading fluently 
4. How can I use a variety of rhyming games to help my students recognize rhyme and word families in text?
5. "Research shows that implementing a range of rhyming games can help students improve their recognition of rhyme and word families( Allen 1988.) Reinforcement of patterns of rhyme through rhyming games helps students build on the concept of rhyme and word families( Bradley & Bryant 1983).
6.Assessment of Decoding prior to and following implementation,  Student performance checklist during games, and teaching journal monitoring individual student progress.

Action Research Summary

1. Encouraging Thoughtful and helpful responses to high stakes writing: How do writing teachers teach it all?
2. Did comments to on students writing help them improve.
3. Reinforcing effort
4. The evidence used is how the students felt about the comments as well as their parents. The writing examples over the year are also evidence that the strategy was working.
5. Parent/Student surveys, student work, reading journals, student interviews, and emails were used to collect data.
6.  The student/parent surveys used a numerical rating system. The teacher looked at how students sentence structure, vocabulary, fluency, and organization changed throughout the year. The teacher listened to what the students had to say in their interviews as well.
7.  The comments were helpful in improving students writing along with their thoughts about writing.
8.  The teacher realized she needed to be more precise with her comments. She also said individual conferences would help give the students a better understanding. She plans on changing her responses system so the teacher and student have an opportunity to communicate about the comments.

Double Journal Entry 11

Formative assessment is assessment that enables students to become better at evaluating their own work, it enables teachers to change the curriculum when needed to accommodate students, it enables students to see how they are doing in a given task. Furthermore, formative assessment is a strategy that improves all students work while closing the gap between low and high achievers.

Formative assessment will help in reinforcing effort because like reinforcing effort the focus is on the quality of work, not the quantity, and formative assessment. Students needed to be praised when they put forth effort and know that messing up is part of the learning process. We have all done things wrong the goal should be realize mistakes and learn from them, because like it or not we are all going to make mistakes.

A rubric can be used formatively and summatively, because students can use the rubric to assess how they are doing throughout the task and the teacher can use the rubric at the end for a final evaluation.

To be honest I haven't seen any true formative assessment, other than the host teacher or I asking questions orally to assess student understanding. I have retaught material when students don't seem to understand what was asked.

The formative assessment should always focus on the task not the student. Timing is key if the task is something new or difficult early formative assessment is the best approach, if the task is routine or easy for the students it is better to wait longer to do a formative assessment because students need a chance to assess their own work or it seems like you are doubting their abilities to them.

Many teachers don't know how to perform high quality assessment as opposed to under-conceptualized assessment. Parents and the community may question the technique if students are only receiving comments and peer assessment on their work, so those involved need to me made aware of the strategy before it is implemented. Making assessment appropriate for all learners is also difficult.

Double Journal Entry 10

All teachers are responsible for including writing instruction in their classes because any good teacher is trying to help their students succeed. Studies have proven that reading and writing across the curriculum improve students performance across the board. Also to correctly interpret material from different classes like science, math, and social studies involves looking at the text in a different manner. For example to look at a historical document one must look for authenticity and bias skills not needed in reading a fiction story.

Here are four ways to support writing instruction for students:

#1Low stakes writing assignments- here students are just writing short assignments ex(write one paragraph comparing and contrasting a direct democracy and a representative democracy.

#2Provide multiple forms of feedback- this involves letting students evaluate each other or maybe class discussion of a students view on a topic they wrote about, anything that is not the standard teacher reading the paper and merely giving the student a grade.

#3Have teachers collaborate on their own techniques-here the teachers are sharing ideas to help the school reach the ultimate goal of student success.

#4Encourage teachers to look for effective techniques- Teachers like to research ways to become enhance professional development, so having teachers look for ways to improve can lead to them really enjoying implementing writing instruction in their class.

Student Interest Survey

When you hear history what historical event, era, or individual do you think of?

Focused Observation

One student in my class has difficulty with attention. I've caught them drawing pictures while the teacher was going over work. Sometimes they start clicking a pen and become more focused on that then the task at hand. The student has shown improvement since they started taking their medicine again, the past couple of classes the student has shown a conscious focus to get the assignments completed. The student has told me they want to bring their grade up. This student has shown great potential; they just need to be kept focused and encouraged throughout the day.

Webquest evaluation

Some of the websites didn't work properly. The resources were to scattered around, and contained a lot of irrelevant information. The process was all right but I may change the size of the groups. The process needs to be more explicit.

Journal Entry 9

"We are constantly critiquing, adjusting, modifying,

revising"

"Whereas young writers are often

inspired by the great works of literature"

"Teachers use these artifacts to

engage the children in discussing and reflecting on their

design process and thinking process

The first quote is interesting to me because it states that the creators of the scratch program are actually practicing what they preach unlike many individuals. The second quote is so true kids aren't concerned with the grammar used in a story, they just want to read something that is interesting to them. I believe the content of a story is much more important than the words used or the length of the story.

I found at interesting video that relates very well to the article here

Resources:

creative thinking) i learned (by studying how children learn) in kindergarten. Retrieved from http://web.media.mit.edu/~mres/papers/kindergarten-learning-approach.pdf

Welcome to the real world of 21st century learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.creativelearningsystems.com/smartlab.aspx

We Quest Idea

My webquest will be about the presidential election process. The webquest I'm going to use as a guide is here.

Journal Entry 8

Simulation and games are related to project based learning because you can have groups of students make their own models to represent complex material; like the United States Government. Students could also be split into groups for a debate, being asked to collaborate to form their groups opinion on the topic up for debate.

Cues, Question, and Advanced Organizers are related to project based learning because this strategy gives you an idea about level of information or topic the students would be interested in and ready to conquer. This is done through accessing their prior knowledge.

Reinforcing Effort is compatible with project based learning because it is important to encourage students through any educational process, but students rely on it more when they are left to make their own decisions about what is being done.

Resources:

Research-based strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/

Double Journal Entry 7

The dominant paradigm that is showing signs of weakening is the education method of the teacher dictating to the students through lecture and textbook use. It must weaken because with all the advances of technology in the world the United States education system must start using them to catch up with other countries education system. As a result our education system is not keeping pace with other ones around the world.

Project based Learning is superior to traditional learning because it results in better critical thinking skills. The study of fourth and fifth grades by Sheperd(1998) resulted in the students using project based learning concerned with housing shortages in different countries had a significant increase in critical thinking skills as well as being more confident in what they leaned compared to the control group. The Boahler study(1997, 1998) studied two different British schools over a three year period, one using project based learning the other traditional learning. The students made similar gains on basic mathematical procedures. The project based group did better on conceptual problems. They could use the information in different circumstances unlike the traditional group that just remembered the rules and to use them in a formal problem. Thus project based learning results in a student that is prepared to answer a multitude of questions using the knowledge gained through just one project. A study that had two groups make a brochure about motivation, attitude toward learning, work habits, critical thinking skills, and problem solving abilities again resulted with a higher level in conceptual skills. Project based learning has also been beneficial to students who struggle in the traditional classroom; those students have excelled it may be because it suits their learning style better or the activity involved in the project. Students have less time to be disruptive when they are active in their learning.

Problem based learning is exactly what it sounds like. Students work in small groups to identify the problem, what they need to know about it, and how to solve the problem. This type of learning is experimental because if one way to solve the problem at hand fails students modify their technique to solve the problem until they are successful. This type of education is better than traditional because it prepares students to tackle problems they will face in the real world. A study showed that medical students that had classes using problem based learning with a mock patient scored higher on clinical problem solving and on actual clinical performance(Vernon & Blake, 1993;
Albanese & Mitchell, 1993). Project based learning leads students to examine their own work closely. Teachers writing about their own practice leads to reflection, and sometimes changes in their methods
(Darling-Hammond & Hammerness, 2002). Students engaged in this method of learning are able to justify their explanations with legitimate arguements(Stepien et al., 1993). If asked why they felt a certain why a student with a problem based learning background would not just simply say because instead they could articulate an informative explanation of their answer. This type of person’s opinion is more respected than anyone that can’t reasonably explain their feelings.

In learning by design students learn through designing and building a product that requires understanding and applying their knowledge. Once again the students are active involved learners. In one study sixth graders built a partial working respiratory system. The students that designed the system had a better understanding of how the respiratory system functioned than those learning the material in a traditional setting(Hmelo, Holton, and Kolodner2000).

A difference between problem based learning and the other two strategies is the self reflection process in order to better your final work. Learning by design involves a physical representation of what was learned instead of a powerpoint presentation or another final product. In project based learning it is central to the curriculum. For example the final picture drawn in compter aided drafting class(CAD). Where a problem based project the final presentation or product could merely be documents that diagnosis a disease.

The most important benefit for learning in all three of these techniques is preparing students for their lives after school. The techniques all involve social skills which are essential for one to succeed in toady's world. For example at a job interview the individual conducting the interview may ask you to justify something on your resume if your unable to do so intelligently with reasonable explanation you are simply not going to acquire the job.

Resources:

Barron Brigid. (n.d.). Teaching for meaningful learning. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/edutopia-teaching-for-meaningful-learning.pdf

PowerPoint Quiz

The PowerPoint quiz activity relates to setting objectives, however it is a poor example of effectively setting objectives. The objectives are to narrow in this activity. The student doesn't have no sense of ownership of the PowerPoint they create, because they must follow step by step directions. You can't even pick your own animals to represent dangerous and not dangerous. The students also have no say in the goal setting process. The activity would better represent the setting objectives effectively by letting the students make more decisions while making the PowerPoint to obtain the ownership students long for in their academic work. "If students are encouraged to personalize the teacher's goals, then learning increases. Student ownership enhances learning focus."

Resources:

Setting objectives research based strategies . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/sett.php

Double Journal Entry 6

Speaker 1
1. This is helpful for teaching in West Virginia because almost everyone in the state speaks informally with a dialect that is not even close to what is expected from an individual in a formal setting; like an interview for a job.
2. The degrees the speaker holds.
3. respond to mistakes by correcting what the child is not doing.
4. You are trying to correct the vernacular, the students see no connection.
5. scientific method, code switching, and contrastive analysis.
6. Because the cat comes directly after Taylor the owner.
7.The informal possessive pattern is the owner then whatever the own is directly after. The formal possessive pattern is the owner plus the apostrophe S then what is owned.
8. The technique being used in the second grade is code switching.
9. The scientific method look at patterns by collecting data, observe the data, then form a hypothesis from the observation, check the hypothesis to verify the hypothesis.
10. The question is simply what changed.
11. Students reflect when and where formal and informal language is appropriate.
12.City University of New York all students took a pre writing test, traditional approaches showed no improvement, comparison and contrast analysis group showed nearly a 100% improvement.

Speaker 2
1. The students said they felt stupid, confused, and angry.
2. The teacher related the terms to what they knew, clothes they wore in formal and informal situations.
3. Students are prepared to write formally for their life after school. Employers will usually not take a second look at an applicant’s application if it is written in an acceptable manor. Students are more aware of language in every scenario. Students are more accepting of people with different languages and dialects.

On Your Own
In generating and testing hypotheses the students are active learners going through the scientific method to find conclusions. The students are central to solving the problem, because they are making decisions about how to solve the problem. All students look want that feeling of ownership when doing any task including schoolwork.

In identifying differences and similarities students are linking similarities and differences to what they already know, and making new categories for information that doesn’t fit in an existing category.
Resources:

Generating and testing hypotheses . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/gene.php

Identifying similarities and differences. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/iden.php

Wheeler Rebecca. (Writer) (2007). Teaching standard english in urban classrooms in [Web]. Retrieved from http://forum-network.org/lecture/teaching-standard-english-urban-classrooms

This is the last version I promise

Final Where I am From Video

Double Journal Entry 5

The article clearly states there is a strong relationship between a teachers attitudes and the performance of a student. If the student interprets the teachers attitudes as negative the student tends to perform at a lower level than if the teacher has a positive attitude toward them. We have all been there; if we are encouraged by a teacher or they acknowledge our efforts we work harder which leads to better results, and when a teacher gives you the "cold shoulder" one tends to do enough to barley get through if that.

Assessment pitfalls could occur because a teacher looks at a child and assumes they may speak a language other than non-standard just because of their appearance or because the assessment given doesn't consider the culture the student is raised in. Some things are more important in one culture than they are in another.

The awareness approach allows a student to look at their native language and use it, then compare it with standard English. Critical pedagogy is when a student studies why one language is considered the standard. This is done by looking at which people hold prestigious positions that control the social order. This model declares if you accept to the language you are then accepting the culture too. The critical awareness approaches combines the awareness approach and critical pedagogy here a student is allowed to use their native language, but they also are taught to examine why standard English is the accepted language in the United States. These three approaches allow the students to see their native language as a resource rather than a detriment.

The thought of teaching in a classroom that has students with different dialects doesn't bother me, but I don't feel prepared to teach students who don't speak a form of English. This is because I didn't grow up with any language other than English and don't know any other language. I do believe every child can learn just don't think I'm prepared to teach students that speak Spanish or another foreign language. I am ready and able to teach at a school where the students are diverse concerning their home life and accents or pronunciations of English.

Where I'm from

My Poem

I am from the cabin full of memories from rocky boots and hard work.
I am from the house on a hill with the smell of woods.
I am from the taste of ramps, the white tail buck deer munching on clover.
I am from family reunions at the ole Mobley School and strong values.
I am from the hardworking Harrison’s, stubborn Norris’s, and loving Dulaneys.
I am from never giving up, going to the little white church, and hunting not just for animals but opportunities.
From can‘t died in the poor house and you get out of it what you put into it.
I am from the old rugged cross and prayer without ceasing
I'm from New Martinsville with roots in Ireland, sauerkraut and coleslaw.
I’m from live and learn, work hard, play harder, show love receive law.
I am from my brain injury on May 25, 2005, the love and support of my family and friends through it all.
I am from the brown photo album, my pap’s remarkable journal, and love without end amen.

Double Journal Entry 4: Cultural Capital

References:
Bolima, D. (n.d.). Contexts for understanding: Educational learning theories. Retrieved from http://staff.washington.edu/saki/strategies/101/new_page_5.htm

Lester, D. (2008, May 01). Hunters aim for military service. Retrieved from http://www.dailyyonder.com/hunters-aim-military-service

Double Journal Entry 4: Cultural Deficit

References:
Bolima, D. (n.d.). Contexts for understanding: Educational learning theories. Retrieved from http://staff.washington.edu/saki/strategies/101/new_page_5.htm

Mellon, E. (2011, December 03). Whats the real graduation rate in our schools?. Retrieved from http://blog.chron.com/k12zone/2011/12/whats-the-real-graduation-rate-in-our-schools/

Double Journal Entry 3

The most important concept is to encourage the students to accept their native dialect, but to also see the differences between how we talk and how we should write. Students should be allowed to talk in their native dialect because it is easier for them. You're wasting time and energy by making them think before they speak. Students must know they are not stupid just because they talk differently than others. The key to applying this method in the classroom is having the students understand how to code switch to Standard English in a formal setting. This is necessary because on standardized test's students will often see an answer in the form of their native dialect. If we tell the students their way of speaking is wrong, and don't give them reasonable explanations and consequences in the real world for how it could hurt them; most likely they'll ignore us. Students like to discover why things are the way they are. This project allows the students to discover answers to these types of questions on their own.

All through school I've been told not to say aint, holler, catawompus, among other words with no explanation other than it was wrong this is a form of ineffective literacy instruction. A form of effective literacy instruction was when a teacher would tell me to look at the words surrounding the word giving me problems. This way I could at-least figure out the meaning of the word causing the problems.

The relationship to teaching literacy and inclusive practices is building a community with the students' involvement with friends and family outside of the school with the research involved.

To view a link that covers various information on students struggling in literacy skills including dialect differences click here

“College professors began to use them as textbooks in sociology classes.”

This quote intrigued me because though the culture is being used in textbooks and college courses it’s not always viewed negatively like the general public assumes. The Appalachian culture has been discussed in a few of my college courses including introduction to folklore and ethnology. For example in ethnology we studied the snake handling religion still practiced today in West Virginia, the only place it’s still legal. The folklore class focused on many of the positives of the culture from community closeness to the self-sufficient attitude of most Appalachians. It is truly sad that the majority of our fellow Americans have such a negative view of Appalachians. Here is a video from a professor concerning the values of Appalachians.

Citations

O'Brien, J. (2003, May 10). Tall tales appalachia. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/10/opinion/tall-tales-of-appalachia.html

Straw, R. (2007, November 15). Appalachian culture values. Retrieved from http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5687529798773751957

As soon as she opened her mouth

“Teachers and schools must accept, believe, and act upon the belief that children of poverty are learners, have been learning since birth, are ready to learn at anytime, and will learn.”

This quote is very true, if there is any teacher or other individual in the education system that doesn’t believe it, they should find another employer. Friends of mine weren’t encouraged in school by anyone which led to them not rising to their full potential. Some of my friends will even attest to simply being passed through school.

Literacy knowledge concerns reading and writing. My niece expresses print literacy knowledge when she sees an E and states that’s what Elizabeth stands for. Non print literacy know ledge is indicated when a child sees a horse and can tell you what it is. Stereotyped children because of their accent, race, or level of income are often overlooked when struggling with literacy by teachers and administrators. Teachers don’t take the time to identify why the student is struggling instead they assume they just aren’t capable of learning how to read and write. Students sometimes struggle with literacy because they believe if they don’t speak “correctly” they can’t read or write either. Teachers can help struggling students by believing they can learn literacy skills, and instilling this belief in the students first and foremost. Another effective way of helping students is by incorporating the students’ language into the classroom. During my first clinical I connected with the students by speaking in terms they were familiar with. The term proper English is an abstract thought. Who’s to say what proper is. That’s why it is necessary to speak differently in different situations.

This video informed me not only new ways to help students struggling to read, but also ways to expand the reading lesson.

Citation :

Effective literacy practices- teaching for transfer- strategic activity. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5qW2ULuyt8

Purcell Gates, V. (2002). As soon as she opened her mouth. In L. Delpit & J.K Dowdy (Eds.), In The skin that we speak: An anthology of essays on language culture and power. (Print: Anthology)

Inclusive Practices

Inclusive education enables students at varying levels of ability to learn the material. In this type of education students are enabled to perform at their highest level. Inclusive practices help students of different socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, gender, and establish a cohesive identity of being a class. When students are being taught with inclusive practices they’re free to express their own culture without fear of what their peers my say. I tried to implement this when being a counselor at the 4h camp last summer at the sport’s station of the camp.

Inclusive schools practice a sense of community that enables every student to develop a feeling of comfort because they are respected by everyone involved from the principal to their peers. The students are encouraged by their teachers and administrators to do well and best of their ability. In order for an inclusive practice school to operate to its potential extra time must be allowed for planning. Unlike a regular school where one teacher plans the curriculum the whole team is involved in the planning. The team may consist of the regular teacher, special education, parent, principal, the student, and other professionals. The strategy used by inclusive schools to make the student become more responsible and effective in the process is the Student as a problem solver. Here the students are involved in helping one another may it be resolving a dispute between friends or helping a classmate solve a problem.

http://room13teachersspace.blogspot.com/2010/07/inclusive-practice-in-manistream.html

This page is a great example of how the strategy being used doesn't single out anyone. The strategy is beneficial to all the participants. One reason why is they are working together forming relationships to not only help them in this instance but in other lessons and classes as well.

Citations:

Inos Rita H. (n.d.). Research review for inclusive practices. Retrieved from https://online.fairmontstate.edu/webct/urw/lc15057011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

Sue. (2005, July 25). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://room13teachersspace.blogspot.com/2010/07/inclusive-practice-in-manistream.html