UPDATE on My Action Research Project...word walls and activities!

     My action research project is to increase reading literacy by using word walls and word wall activities to increase the reading literacy of my eighth graders.  I started the Action Research project on the second week of school with my word wall activities. Before school started, I decided what words I would tackle for the first unit. I picked the words and wrote the definition for the words and affixed them to my wall. Every day my students have a warm-up and they are to complete one of my activities that I used on the word wall list on my action research plan. I have found that my students want to use more time than I have allotted for my warm-up activity. The first week the activities were taking longer than the five to six minutes that I had planned. The activities that require a word or words to answer the warm-up are the time savers. The activities that I have planned that require at least a paragraph to use the word in the correct context require a lengthier amount of time and I have assigned those as homework assignments. I also have added one activity to my word wall activity list. I am utilizing the exit ticket strategy as a formative assessment. My students receive three to four statements that they agree, disagree, or put a question mark after they read the statement. Before they leave class they are to justify their answer either in sentence form or picture form. I have used this to introduce a concept or elaborate on the concept with the word wall words. It is quick and easy for the students to complete and quick for me to grade. I have documented my hours on my action research project as twenty hours. I have broken this down by ten minutes per class multiplied by six classes which equals one hour each day multiplied by five days a week multiplied by four weeks that we have been working.   I continue to use the word wall within my class during instruction, labs, and checking for understanding but I have set aside ten minutes each day for my word wall activity.  I have also administered quizzes over concepts that use the word wall words and my students scored well on the quizzes but the unit assessment is where their scores took a dive. I can only keep on trying different activities for my students to learn the words and have situations where they can apply the information.

Action Research: It is going....

     My action research project is going well. I started it the second week of school and so far the students are "doing" the assignments with minimal griping. I have found that the word wall activity needs to be shortened due to the time in my class (49 minutes for each period) and my students tend to write very slow when answering the assignment. I have given my students a quiz over the word wall words and they did "okay".  I am using the quiz (and other formative assessments) as the grounds for tutoring. However, I am looking for other activities to use with my project. I have not changed anything yet but I am thinking I will probably have to in regards to the activities. 
     Hope everyone is having a stress free start of the year!!! 


P.S. All Comments are welcomed!!!

WELCOME Back

     Here I sit writing this blog when I probably should be finishing up my last assignment for EDLD 5345. Oh, well, it can wait! I have procrastinated all week, what is one more day going to do to me.     My school year starts next week with a full week of activities for the school year. We have lots of meet and greet with the new faculty and I have several workshops that have been registered for me. Another year starts and already the excitement is in the air and it's just the faculty for the first week. I have no idea  what the actual week of school will bring with the students. This is the first year that I will actually teach a group of students that I have not previously taught. This does fill me with excitement and anxiety.  But alas, I am also a little worried about the action research project and finding the time to adequately implement the activities, keeping up with the data, and organizing the report. I know that I am not the only one that is feeling the pressure so that helps alleviate the tension. Time will tell the tale of my adventure! I look forward to hearing about everyone's progress on their plans.


Here's to another great year to all of us out there headed back to the classroom soon! Hope you enjoy!

Good luck,
Sonya P.

Reflection time: The End is here!

     It is finally the last week of EDLD 5301 and I am excited! I am excited the class is almost over because frankly, I have learned so much over these five weeks I am not sure I could fit anymore into my brain.  Up until five weeks ago I had no idea what action research was and now I do know and have created my wondering and completed my action research blueprint for my plan. I have assessed my plan using the five indicators, revised the plan with the CARE model, and revised my plan with comments from my fellow bloggers.  I won't lie- I am still very apprehensive about the coming school year and the implementation process and all of the pieces that the project encompasses but somehow I will survive. 
     I was very skeptical about the whole blogging process and the creation of the site. However, once I was signed in and created my template the process has been pretty smooth. I enjoy posting my assignments or "musings" and enjoy checking to see if I have any comments from anyone. I believe that the blog site and the discussion board have been very useful to me because I have had questions and my classmates have graciously answered me. I like the camaraderie and collaboration that the blog site and the discussion board allows for the students. 
     In reviewing key pieces of information for this reflection blog; the video of Dr. Kirk Lewis and what he said concerning action research projects really made an impression on me. He stated that action research projects needed to be practical and applicable to a real situation. I was unsure at the beginning of what direction my wondering would take and those words helped "reign" me in on my inquiry and the direction I would take. 
I have learned a lot over the last few weeks and I am sure I will have more questions as the weeks progress. 

Keep blogging everyone and I will keep commenting!!!

Sonya P.

I can see the light...

     I can definitely say this course has been challenging and has kept me on my toes. Between the assignments and the planning of the action research plan I have had little time to breathe but now it is almost over and I can see the light at the end of the action research tunnel (the planning phase anyway). I met with my site supervisor (my principal) on Tuesday. We had a very good discussion on my action research plan and how it fits into his vision for our campus. He reviewed my activities and commented that in order to get the students to "buy into" my plan, the activities needed to be engaging and not lengthy on time.  We discussed the tests, survey, checklist, and writing that I would use as an assessment and for data.  I also shared that I did not know where to begin with the survey because I was a survey newbie! But that several classmates had shared possible locations for finding information and he said he would help me also.  He made no changes to my action research plan but said when we meet in December we would discuss progress or problems. 
    Please comment and I will comment back! -  and let us continue our journey on our plans - 

Till next week,
Sonya P.

Action Research Plan: How will word walls and word wall activities increase reading literacy?

School Vision: To increase reading literacy at Edna Junior High School
Goal: To increase reading literacy through the use of word walls and word wall activities to promote reading skills and comprehension in the area of eighth grade science

Outcomes	Activities	Resources/ Research tools needed	Responsibility to address activities	Time Line	Benchmarks/ Assessments	Revisions to  SIP/PIP Monitoring and  assessments
to provide an approach to meaningful teaching of vocabulary with an emphasis on student engagement and higher level thinking skills	Concept Ladder: Students place a word on the top or bottom of the ladder and use the rungs to fill in information about the different aspects of the word.	vocabulary words for word walls	Sonya Proper, Paul Fleener	Aug. 2013- Oct. 2014	Assessment scores over each unit (percentage of students that passed the unit)	At the end of each unit, view data and analyze which objectives were passes and failed. Document objectives adn review unit test with all students
To build vocabulary thereby improving reading comprehension and writing style	Students will be encouraged to use the word wall words in their daily classroom writing	Pre-made masters of concept ladders			Lab observation to observe students are using the vocabulary	Teacher will reflect in a journal the students progress
To reinforce understanding of subject - specific terminology with a focus on students internalizing key concepts	Classroom discussion: Teacher will conduct her lesson and check for understanding during the lesson by asking students questions about the words on the word wall				One to two page report at the end of the unit that teh student will write. The report should encompass everything the student has learned including the use of word wall words.	Meet with the principal in December to discuss progress, problems, or any other information pertinent to my project
To provide visual cues for students	Students will choose a word to convey its meaning visually. Students  will add pictures and use the letters of the word to show the word meaning.  I will post these around the room.				Science State Assessment Scores/Data (Test is administered in April)	Meet with campus principal to discuss outcome of STAAR test scores for science
To communicate scientific ideas, procedures, results, and conclusions using appropriate language and formats	Total Words Report: Students will write a report using as many words from the word wall and use them correctly. Students will underline all the words and share with the class				Create an observation checklist to assess student mastery of word wall words
	Around the world:Have the students stand and give a definition for the first student.  If the first student gets it correctly, then continue on the next student with a new definition. if the first student misses, he will sit down, and the next student will get an opportunity to answer. Continue around the room until one student remains.

HTML Tables

HELP!!!! - Calling for HELP to post plan

     Can someone out there help me? I have been trying and trying and I cannot use the two options that were in the Resource section. The first option tells me it cannot register my account so that is a dead end. The second option...well...hmmm....my screenshot does not look like the example! What to do? I have looked everywhere for the "MY Account" 
      My blog was on blogger so I changed it to the google + and did that make a difference?  NO!!! All it did was change my name to Sonya Proper's blogs instead of Teaching Ninja's blogs. The URL is the same so at least that still works. (was surprised they let me use my name since at the beginning they suspended it because they said that wasn't my name) 
 So I am a loss of what to do? Any suggestions???

Help!!!

 
 

Week 2 Reflections...

     This week has been another eye - opening, fast paced week for me.  As my assignments come to an end, I catch myself reflecting on the material that was covered this week and what material stood out.  I have never given much thought to action research either because I was "doing it" or because I was not calling it "action research". However, I have learned that action research is everywhere. Action research essentially can be anything and everything when it comes to the school setting. If there is a problem then follow the steps in the action research process and you will find solutions and collect data on the way. I feel the videos this week gave me sound advice on leading a campus and, in regards to action research, I feel that "listening to your staff" is paramount. Teachers are in the trenches everyday and we know what works and what does not. I also believe in the words that Dr. Lewis stated, "that action research must be practical". That was eye-opening to me because I have been reaching far and wide for a topic to research. I would look at topics and then think back to what he said: "it has to be practical" and if it is not "feasible" then look for another topic. Practicality and feasibility have been driving me towards my action research topics this week. 

     I have given quite a bit of thought to what ideas I could learn more about through my action research project. I have looked at having a new dress code policy for the students and what to do about our homework policy and is homework even necessary? No matter how much I look at these other topics I always come back to the reading literacy topic that I first stumbled upon. I have met with my site supervisor and we have "tweaked" a few things and now both of us are happy. It is quite different than what I first envisioned but it is geared towards my subject and hopefully I will gain greater insight into my teaching methods and my students learning. I believe that it is feasible, practical, and can bring about change on my campus. 

Action Research Description/Ways to Use it in the Classroom

     From my prescribed reading I conclude that action research is research or inquiry that brings about change in the school setting.  Administrators and teachers strive to understand and improve their practices in their different settings. Action research begins with a problem.  Through inquiry the problem is systematically examined.  The examination process consists of data collection, asking questions, and researching more information.  Through the action research process, reflection must occur.  The action research process continues to revolve through this process until a solution is derived.  The action research process can be used for any and all problems that need a solution to be found through a systematic process from which administrators, teachers, and students benefit.  This process is interactive because all parties are not sitting and having information "fed" to them but rather working together to find a solution.  Action research can help achieve and enhance professional growth and lead to change.

     I want to use action research in the area of increasing reading fluency in all subjects because our students struggle in their reading classes due to their lack of reading skills and comprehension of the material they have read.  In addition, our students do not reach the standard that the state mandates as an acceptable passing rate.  We must find ways to aide our students to increase reading fluency,  comprehension, and to increase our state assessment scores.  We have an advisory class that is built into our day and I am proposing to have our students read during this time at least twice a week.  I am also proposing that the reading material consist of books, however, I am not opposed to magazines and newspapers.  Often, our students are only reading books and they need to be exposed to other types of reading materials.  My wish is to have them reading!  The other two days will consist of "word wall" activities that the teacher will have, that each subject  will review and discuss with the students.  Students will have planned interactive activities.  Fridays will be when teachers meet such as core times or grade level meetings.  In addition to the advisory time, I would like to"extend" my reading plan to having a reading club that would meet once a week or every two weeks after school in the library. The purpose of the reading club would be to read poems, articles, or have the students share what they are reading that they find fascinating.  By reading and introducing different genres I am hoping to see an increase in reading, vocabulary, and comprehension skills and an increase in all subjects that are tested for the state assessments. 

Educators and Blogs: An Analysis

      Teachers and technology have been together in the classroom engaging and enriching the minds of our students for quite some time.  Technology is constantly evolving and new ideas are being tried and tested.  One of these ideas is in the form of blogs. The "blog" allows the writer to convey his/her thoughts and other "bloggers" may respond in a rather quick fashion.  Educational leaders can use blogs in a variety of ways in the educational setting.  

     Educational leaders can use blogs to provide instructional tips to their teachers. The leaders are able to post their ideas and others from all areas of the world may respond and provide feedback. This allows the campus leader to gain insight and collaborate with other  "experts". Because of the collaboration more areas are opened up for discussion. If the educational leader is needing information about a specific program or plan, he can blog about his idea(s) and lively discussions can take place.  Consequently, blogging can be beneficial in the way of reflection blogging. Campus educators can reflect on their day to day routines.  Educational leaders may also have teachers form blogs on different topics in their classrooms for their students.  This can lead to lively chats among the students and can engage the most reluctant learner to write. Blogging can be used for any and all subjects.  Blogging has many benefits by creating discussions on ideas, by providing feedback from hundreds to thousands of educators in different parts of the world, and by  giving the leader the opportunity to reflect on their busy day.