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Shana Carter Kindergarten Teacher South Bendle Elementary School Burton, MI. Research Inquiry Project August 4, 2012. All About Me…. I graduated in 2008 from Michigan State University with a degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Language Arts
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Shana CarterKindergarten TeacherSouth Bendle Elementary SchoolBurton, MI Research Inquiry Project August 4, 2012
All About Me… • I graduated in 2008 from Michigan State University with a degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Language Arts • I did my student teaching internship in a second grade classroom in Flint, MI • I got my first job as a Title One Kindergarten teacher in August 2010 • The following year I was hired as South Bendle’s newest Kindergarten teacher
South BendleElementary School • South Bendle is a Title One school that educates beginning at pre-school through second grade • Our student population: • 90% free/reduced lunch • 26% receive special education services • 33% transiency rate
My Classroom • I am one of the four Kindergarten teachers in my building • I teach all subject areas with the biggest focus on Reading, Writing and Math • On average, I have between 24-28 students in my class • This past year, I was privileged with a paraprofessional helping in my classroom since January and it will continue this school year
Teaching Strategies & Techniques Wondering Questions: • In what ways can I supplement my reading program in order to further engage my students? • In what ways can I enhance my reading block to make it a more balanced approach to reading? • Will my kindergarteners reading scores improve with incorporating supplemental reading strategies/techniques into our reading instruction? • Will my kindergarteners become more independent writers if a more wholly balanced approach to reading is taken place?
Reasonforthisstudy: • Last year was my first year teaching my district’s reading program. We currently use the Direct Instruction program, Reading Mastery. • Throughout my time implementing this reading program, I have struggled with maintaining student engagement and focus during the lessons. • Also, I noticed that my students did not enjoy our Reading block. Many children would moan and sigh when it was time for reading.
ResearchProcedures • Use of literature as data • Critical group feedback (discussions between staff members) • Analyzing my current Direct Instruction Reading Program • Video (to record observations & student behaviors during lessons) • Reflective Weekly Journals
Timeline • My study will take place during the course of 3 months • First week: • I will start by analyzing my school district’s current edition of our Direct Instruction reading program • Second and Third week: • I will collaborate with colleagues and gain helpful insight into my own practice of teaching reading but finding out what works for them. I will have grand discussions with the teachers in my school building, as well as my fellow teacher friends from other districts that may not teach the same program. I feel then, that I will have beneficial information to get me started in trying out new strategies, techniques, and programs to further engage my students in reading.
Timeline Continued… • Week Four through Twelve: • I will begin to videotape my lessons and making notes as I continue to observe and analyze the student engagement, motivation and achievement in reading. I will continue videotaping and performing weekly journals from week 4 of my inquiry project to week 12. I would like to see the gradual progression or decline in the level of engagement in my students. My weekly journals will make for a wonderful insight of my journey throughout my research and it will be clear to see the progress through my writings.
Bibliography • Cook, D. E. (2002). The Effect of a Direct, Instruction Reading Program on Students Defined as At-Risk. Unpublished manuscript, Cambridge College, Retrieved from http://www.cambridgecollege.edu/library/upload/CAGS-ILP Sample.pdf • Grossen, B. (n.d.). The Research Base for Reading Mastery, SRA. Unpublished raw data, University of Oregon, Eugene, Eugene & USA. Retrieved from http://pages.uoregon.edu/adiep/rdgtxt.htm • Orlich, D. C., Harder, R. J., Callahan, R. C., Trevisan, M. S., & Brown, A. H. (2010). Teaching Strategies, a Guide to Effective Instruction. Wadsworth Pub Co. • Schug, M. C., Tarver, S. G., & Western, R. D. (2001). Direct Instruction and the Teaching of Early Reading. Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Report, 14(2), retrieved from http://www.wpri.org/Reports/Volume14/Vol14no2.pdf • (2011). Direct Instruction: What the Research Says. Education Consumers Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.education-consumers.org/DI_Research.pdf