Week #7 Seaccr

Week 7 Data Reflection

A quote I re-directed toward research:

Vincent Van Gogh 
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.

I actually feel like I will finish this research paper.  All the little steps are beginning to add up and become something attainable.   I am excited and enthusiastic to find the results.  I have all the data into graphs, tables and tools for the reflection and analysis.  I plan to use the 'narrative' data analysis method for this project.  I will tell what has happened and what findings resulted in a story and event based discussion.  I will also use the content analysis method of organizing data.  I have found strands and themes in my research that have emerged from the studies and data I have received.  Some I expected, and some I did not expect.  I am exited to add a creative element in order to integrate these ideas into an organized and effective discussion.

My personal goal is that I will be able to improve my teaching due to the results I find in this study.    One of the biggest discoveries I am unearthing is that reading comes alive to children at about the 2nd grade level.
As a group they are devouring books, all kinds of books.  I am finding that the more excited I am about books, the teaching of books, and the actual reading aloud, the more excited the students are to read.  The same thing happens in the library.  Whatever book the librarian reads to the students, over half the class wants to check it out at the end of the class period.  My parent surveys are also showing me that the parents who read regularly to their children have children who are enthusiastic about reading.

I talked to my administrator about this phenomena and he believes that student enthusiasm is directly related to teacher enthusiasm for all subject matters.  So, how will I be a better teacher?  I will show enthusiasm about all the subjects I teach.  I will relate real world experiences to topics studied, and give ample opportunities to explore and experience different types of literature, math manipulatives,  play various instruments, and provide as many opportunities as possible for students to become excited about learning.

I have some new technology under my belt:  Worldle, Bubbl.us, concept maps, Survey monkey, Screencastomatic, and new types of graphs and charts using Excel.

This week I will begin put narrative to my data analysis.  I think the biggest challenge is making sense of the pieces and organizing them accordingly.

A final thought from one of my favorite inspirational speakers:

Andrew Carnegie 
Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!