I feel that I gained some valuable technology resources in this course. I really liked the flipped learning and live binders. I feel that I can use these two technology resources in my classroom this year. I also feel that I am strong enough technologically to use these resources effectively and I also feel comfortable enough to teach them to my fellow teachers. This course also gave me some inspiration to find more ways to integrate technology into my classroom.
I am almost done with my campus supervised hours. I need to join another committee on campus and I would like to learn more about the budget on campus. Other than that I only have a few small things left to do.
I have completed all of the data collection for my research project and I am ready to start writing my paper. Creating spreadsheets with all of my information was very time consuming but I have it done. I am going to start writing my paper this week.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Assignment 5.1 - Web Conference Reflection
I attended a session with Dr. Jenkins. I was surprised to see that we reached the limit of 100 participants. But even with the high number, Dr. Jenkins was able to answer any questions that were posed. The session was a little hectic with all the questions and side conversations going on, but I was able to get some answers to questions that I had about our assignment. I would have liked it to have been a little more structured and without the side conversations, but, all in all, it was a good experience.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Draft Action Research Project Progress Report
Title – To what extent do the unit tests and district common assessments predict a student’s success on the Geometry EOC?
Needs Assessment – The need for improvement was based on our campus not meeting our AYP goals because of the low math scores of our low socioeconomic students. We have a test after every unit and a district common assessment at the end of every nine weeks, and I want to know if these tests are accurate predictors of the student’s success on the EOC. If these tests are not accurate predictors of future success or failure then the tests that we give the students during the school year need to change.
Objectives and Vision of the action research project. (ELCC 1.1) – My vision is that all students in all subpops pass the Geometry EOC. We have an increasing low socioeconomic student population and we need to make sure that we meet the needs of these students. They are our lowest performing subpop and we have to do a better job of reaching these students and finding the low areas that we need to correct. The unit tests and district benchmarks should be indicators of the student’s knowledge of the subject and predictors of how they will do on the Geometry EOC. My research project should let the Geometry team know if these tests do just that. The data collected should also allow the teachers to find the objectives that the students struggle in, as well as, how each subpop does on the tests.
Review of the Literature and Action Research Strategy – I discussed the research project with the principal and math dean on my campus. The math dean showed me a sample of the reflection form that is used in Algebra 1and 2, and I based the reflection forms that I used based on these samples. We chose this topic based on our AYP results, and my research could also lead to other departments following my lead and looking at the effectiveness of their tests. Originally, I wanted to do a reflection form for every test in all three levels of Geometry, however, this proved to be too daunting of a task. So, we decided to get results from the tests during the first nine weeks from all of the geometry teachers. We also decided to use the benchmark data that is provided from the district. By narrowing the scope of my research project it will allow us to focus on one area at a time. It has also lead to other wonderings and research topics in the future. I would like to do the same study using the unit tests during the second, third and fourth nine weeks.
Articulate the Vision (ELCC 1.2) – I described my project to the parents at our math night and I also described the project to the other geometry teachers during a staff development session. The other teachers have done a great job in doing the reflections and giving me the results.
Manage the organization (ELCC 3.1) –The implementation of the research project has fallen primarily on my shoulders. I did not want to burden the other teachers with a lot of tasks. I created, copied and disseminated the reflection forms to the other geometry teachers. Each teacher had their students complete the reflection form after the test was graded and returned to the students. The teacher then gave me the completed forms to enter into a database that I created. We used these reflection forms for two purposes; one, was to allow the students an opportunity to see the areas that they struggled on and give them an opportunity to reflect on why they struggled in those areas, and two, was to collect data so that the teachers can see what TEKS the students struggled on.
Manage Operations (ELCC 3.2) – I did not face any conflict from the teachers. They fully supported my research and they saw the positive effect that it can have on our students. My fellow geometry teachers were great in that aspect. They also did a great job in having the students fill out the reflection forms. Filling out these reflection forms took class time away from the teachers, but they saw the need in it and had their students complete them. Unfortunately we will not have final results until we receive the results of the EOC, but I will be able to complete the project over the summer and disseminate the results to the other teachers when we get back for next school year. These results will aid us in our preparation for next year.
Respond to Community Interest and Needs (ELCC 4.2) – I plan on breaking the data down by our different subpops to see what objectives that they struggle in. If I notice that a certain subpop does poorly on a topic then that will show us that we need to find a different way to teach that topic. One of the main reasons for doing this project is to increase student achievement, and my results will give us the data necessary to make changes in our curriculum. The student population on our campus is rapidly changing and these results should help us to maintain the culture of success that we have on our campus.
Title – To what extent do the unit tests and district common assessments predict a student’s success on the Geometry EOC?
Needs Assessment – The need for improvement was based on our campus not meeting our AYP goals because of the low math scores of our low socioeconomic students. We have a test after every unit and a district common assessment at the end of every nine weeks, and I want to know if these tests are accurate predictors of the student’s success on the EOC. If these tests are not accurate predictors of future success or failure then the tests that we give the students during the school year need to change.
Objectives and Vision of the action research project. (ELCC 1.1) – My vision is that all students in all subpops pass the Geometry EOC. We have an increasing low socioeconomic student population and we need to make sure that we meet the needs of these students. They are our lowest performing subpop and we have to do a better job of reaching these students and finding the low areas that we need to correct. The unit tests and district benchmarks should be indicators of the student’s knowledge of the subject and predictors of how they will do on the Geometry EOC. My research project should let the Geometry team know if these tests do just that. The data collected should also allow the teachers to find the objectives that the students struggle in, as well as, how each subpop does on the tests.
Review of the Literature and Action Research Strategy – I discussed the research project with the principal and math dean on my campus. The math dean showed me a sample of the reflection form that is used in Algebra 1and 2, and I based the reflection forms that I used based on these samples. We chose this topic based on our AYP results, and my research could also lead to other departments following my lead and looking at the effectiveness of their tests. Originally, I wanted to do a reflection form for every test in all three levels of Geometry, however, this proved to be too daunting of a task. So, we decided to get results from the tests during the first nine weeks from all of the geometry teachers. We also decided to use the benchmark data that is provided from the district. By narrowing the scope of my research project it will allow us to focus on one area at a time. It has also lead to other wonderings and research topics in the future. I would like to do the same study using the unit tests during the second, third and fourth nine weeks.
Articulate the Vision (ELCC 1.2) – I described my project to the parents at our math night and I also described the project to the other geometry teachers during a staff development session. The other teachers have done a great job in doing the reflections and giving me the results.
Manage the organization (ELCC 3.1) –The implementation of the research project has fallen primarily on my shoulders. I did not want to burden the other teachers with a lot of tasks. I created, copied and disseminated the reflection forms to the other geometry teachers. Each teacher had their students complete the reflection form after the test was graded and returned to the students. The teacher then gave me the completed forms to enter into a database that I created. We used these reflection forms for two purposes; one, was to allow the students an opportunity to see the areas that they struggled on and give them an opportunity to reflect on why they struggled in those areas, and two, was to collect data so that the teachers can see what TEKS the students struggled on.
Manage Operations (ELCC 3.2) – I did not face any conflict from the teachers. They fully supported my research and they saw the positive effect that it can have on our students. My fellow geometry teachers were great in that aspect. They also did a great job in having the students fill out the reflection forms. Filling out these reflection forms took class time away from the teachers, but they saw the need in it and had their students complete them. Unfortunately we will not have final results until we receive the results of the EOC, but I will be able to complete the project over the summer and disseminate the results to the other teachers when we get back for next school year. These results will aid us in our preparation for next year.
Respond to Community Interest and Needs (ELCC 4.2) – I plan on breaking the data down by our different subpops to see what objectives that they struggle in. If I notice that a certain subpop does poorly on a topic then that will show us that we need to find a different way to teach that topic. One of the main reasons for doing this project is to increase student achievement, and my results will give us the data necessary to make changes in our curriculum. The student population on our campus is rapidly changing and these results should help us to maintain the culture of success that we have on our campus.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I have created student reflection forms for the first two tests in all three levels of geometry. The reflection forms consist of all of the TEKS from the test along with a spot for the students to enter whether or not they got the question correct. There is also a spot for the student to mark how many questions that they got right out of each section and the percentage correct in each TEK category. I also have the TEKS written out so the students know what they are. The teachers have gone over the reflection forms for the first test with their students and the teachers have given the completed forms to me. I am going to pass out the reflection forms for the second test to the teachers to go over with their students next week. I am currently working on creating a spreadsheet to keep count of the results of the reflection forms. As a geometry team we have also gone over student data from last year to target our low performing students and also to target our low socioeconomic students. I am going to continue creating reflection forms for our tests and I will begin uploading data into a spreadsheet soon. We have a district created benchmark coming up at the end of the nine weeks and I hope to have all of the data entered so that I can compare the results of our in class tests with the data from the benchmark.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Finalizing my research plan
I was finally able to get in touch with my principal and I am going do my action research plan on how the rigor of the tests and quizzes in the geometry curriculum relates to the rigor of the geometry EOC. I am going to monitor the objectives that my students miss on their tests and compare those with our benchmark scores and then finally with the EOC.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
For my action research plan I chose 3 topics to discuss with my principal.
1. I want to research ways to increase the level of technology in my classroom and compare the benchmark and EOC results from last school year with the current school year.
2. I want to review the EOC data and compare the rigor of EOC questions to the questions that we have on our tests and quizzes. After updating our curriculum I want to track my students success on their in-class tests and compare the data with their benchmark and EOC scores.
3. I am going to research the effectiveness of the 9 period day that we are implementing on our campus next year. I want to track the benchmark and EOC scores of the students who are in the remediation classes for the extra 9th period. I also want to track the tardy and absent rates of those students. I am also going to survey the teachers to find out how effective the classes are and ask for any suggestions for improvement that they have. Finally, I will survey the teachers and students on the effectiveness of the 7 Habits Curriculum.
I want to research the effectiveness of the 9 period day, but I want to discuss the options with my principal before making a final decision.
1. I want to research ways to increase the level of technology in my classroom and compare the benchmark and EOC results from last school year with the current school year.
2. I want to review the EOC data and compare the rigor of EOC questions to the questions that we have on our tests and quizzes. After updating our curriculum I want to track my students success on their in-class tests and compare the data with their benchmark and EOC scores.
3. I am going to research the effectiveness of the 9 period day that we are implementing on our campus next year. I want to track the benchmark and EOC scores of the students who are in the remediation classes for the extra 9th period. I also want to track the tardy and absent rates of those students. I am also going to survey the teachers to find out how effective the classes are and ask for any suggestions for improvement that they have. Finally, I will survey the teachers and students on the effectiveness of the 7 Habits Curriculum.
I want to research the effectiveness of the 9 period day, but I want to discuss the options with my principal before making a final decision.
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