Monitoring My GAME Plan

        I feel as though this process (or maybe just this class/school year) is already flying by.  So far, my GAME Plan is going fairly well.  There are a few adjustments I have made, or need to make. 

        As far as integrating technology goes, I think I am making progress.  In reading, I have used the iPads for students to complete word work during phonics lessons.  Not only is this allowing the students to practice using specific phonics skills, but it exposing students to the keyboard and where letters are located.  I have also used the iPads for specific math skills practice at the end of an intervention lesson.  I also use my projector and document camera daily to complete phonics practice.  We are still waiting for our SMARTBoard to be set up (hopefully this week).  Today we received some software with reading and math lessons to be used with our interactive whiteboard, which I am very excited to explore.  My teaching partner and I have also found a few websites that have free math lessons we can use to incorporate technology.  Does anyone use or know of any good websites or blogs where teachers share SMARTBoard lessons?

        Progress on my second goal is not going quite at quickly.  I am having a hard time determining when to meet with colleagues.  I have decided it may be better to create a wiki to share with colleagues.  This way everyone who is interested in my school can read and share their thoughts on their own time.  Our technology IF will be out of school for a couple weeks because of back surgery, so I have not been able to discuss and workshop options with her at this time.

        I feel confident about the progress I have made so far.  Resources and information are fairly simple to find for each goal so far.  I have learned that I use technology more than I realize on a daily basis, but I feel I could be more purposeful at times.  I am curious as to how other teachers are using iPads and other types of technology in their kindergarten-second grade classrooms.  I am especially curious about how other intervention teachers (Special Education and Title I) teachers use technology to support their instruction.

Action Research Update

Wow!  I can't believe how quickly the time has gone.  I have noticed in my research study that some skills are much easier and take less time to teach and learn.  Students quickly picked up on ordering numbers 0-20. I also feel that since I had to alter the timeline of my study, that students did not have enough time to develop all skills fully.  Most students started to figure our making 5 by the end of the week.  I also noticed that addition skills improved much more quickly than subtraction skills.  Some students still want to add when practicing a subtraction fluency test.  I also believe that learning to subtract simply takes more time.  I am eager to complete the post tests with students next week to see what kind of progress they have made.

Carrying Out My GAME Plan

Last week I created a personal GAME Plan with two different goals for technology.  My goals are:

1.      To improve on standard 2.a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity (International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2008).

2.      To improve on standard 5.d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community (International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2008).

To reach my goals, I will need different resources and information to assist me and guide my learning and teaching.  Different resources I might need to incorporate technology into lessons include iPads and iPad apps, internet, SMARTBoard, projector, and a document camera.  I would also need a blog to share what I am doing with others, which I already have set up!  To facilitate a professional development workshop, I need to contact our district technology IF (instructional facilitator).  The technology IF is usually in charge of our technology professional development.  I will also need to create a digital diary to ask myself questions and keep notes throughout the process of the GAME plan. 

      To share technology and how I am using it in my classroom I will also need to set up dates that I can hold sessions.  These will most likely be done in my school with any colleague that would like to join.  I will have to be sure to check the school and district calendar when scheduling these sessions as well. 

So far, I have been able to incorporate technology into a few different lessons this week.  I have used LexiaCore5, a reading program on iPads, so students can independently practice skills while I work with students one-on-one on skills.  I have also used different math apps on iPads such as Splash Math and Teach Me to practice specific skills after finishing a lesson.

Personal GAME Plan

In this class we have been discussing how to integrate technology into lessons across the curriculum.  We have also learned about something called the GAME plan.  The GAME plan guides teachers and students in self-directed learning.  To follow the GAME plan, you set goals (G), take action (A), monitor progress (M), and evaluate progress (E).  I am using the GAME plan to address my proficiency in integrating technology in the classroom.

Goals

     The goals I have set deal with the ISTE Standards for Teachers. 

1. My first goal is to improve on standard 2.a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity (International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2008).  I will work on this goal throughout the school year.
2. My second goal is to improve on standard 5.d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community (International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 2008).

Actions

Goal 1

1. The first action I would take to meet my first goal would be to try to incorporate technology into one new lesson each week.  It is important to gradually design or adapt lessons that I teach, rather than trying to adapt everything at one time. 

Goal 2

1. The actions I would take to meet my second goal would include sharing what I do in my classroom to incorporate technology with my colleagues.  I could do this by using my blog or sending a monthly newsletter through school e-mail. 
2. A second action I could take would be to facilitate a session on a district professional development day that is dedicated to technology.  In the past, I have facilitated a session in which I shared different iPad apps that I use the most in my classroom and how I use them.

Monitor Progress

Goal 1

1. While doing lesson plans, I will choose one lesson that I feel I could integrate technology into.  I will be careful not to create a technology lesson, but stick to the content.  At the end of each week, I will look at the chosen technology lesson to determine how successful it was and what changes I may need to make.
2. I will keep notes on the process as well. (What was hard, what went well, what I need to change, etc.)

Goal 2

1. To monitor my progress I would write in my calendar each month time to dedicate to sharing how I use technology.  I would also share with my colleagues how I plan to share my thoughts.

Evaluate and Extend Learning

Goal 1

1. To evaluate how I have designed and adapted lessons to incorporate technology I will review my notes from the year.  If I was successfully able to integrate technology into at least one lesson per week, I would be successful!
2. To extend my learning, I would continue the process the following school year, only I would integrate technology into more than one lesson each week.

Goal 2

1. To evaluate my progress on this goal I would make sure that I save all newsletters sent to colleagues as well as when I facilitate tech sessions.
2. To extend my learning I could look into eventually facilitating a session at a technology conference or teaching a class.

References

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). (2008). Standards•T. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-T_PDF.pdf

Action Research Update

     My initial wondering for my action research study is: What strategy is more effective for student achievement in intervention; teaching four mathematics topics daily for eight weeks or teaching each of the four topics for two weeks over an eight week period?
     This school year, our district is implementing a new math curriculum.  There is also an intervention system that is part of the program, as well as a Tier 3 math program that was purchased for use.  As a result of the decisions made by the K-5 intervention team, I will not be able to complete my research for the planned ten weeks.  Instead, I will completing the study for six weeks. I still believe I will find the answers to my question.
     During the first full week of school (August 25-29) the intervention team began pulling first graders for math intervention.  The students that participate in math intervention are students that were identified for support from last school year.  I gave the five students in the group a pre-test in four different math topic areas (ordering numbers 0-20, making 5 and 10, addition to 5, and subtraction from 5).  Another intervention teacher is helping to teach the two groups of students.  I met with the teacher to determine the different ways and strategies we would teach each skill to the group.
     It was very interesting to analyze the pre-tests.  While taking the making 5 assessment I noticed how difficult this was for all five students in the group.  Because of the difficulty of the task, I chose to only focus on making 5 rather than including making 10.  I then split the students into two different groups; one group of three and a group of two.  There is at least one low level student and one medium/high student in each group.
      During the first week of interventions after giving the pre-tests, Group 1 (three students) will work on all four skills each week.  Group 2 (two students) worked on ordering numbers 0-20.  I noticed that Group 2 was regularly succeeding in the ordering number tasks that were given to them by the end of the week.  I am concerned that the lower of the two students will not remember the skills by the time we do the post-test.
     This coming week, Group 1 will continue to work on all four skills throughout the week.  Group 2 will work on making 5.
   

Blog Use

Hello all!  I can't believe we will be in our 12th day of the school year tomorrow!  I wanted to update you and let you know that I will be using my blog for two purposes.  The first is to update and reflect on an action research project that I am working on in my classroom.  I will also be using my blog for classroom assignments for the new class I just started, Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas (6713).  Have a great week!