Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Data First Round
Week 3: Data Collecting
Week 3
At this point in my research, I decided to continue to move
forward with collecting data with the 11 participants that returned all of
their forms signed and ready to participate. I had hoped that more of my
students would be able to participate so that I could have a larger number of
participants to compare data with.
It was also difficult to make sure that the students were
taking this assignment seriously and using the computer time to actively participate
on Moby Max for the 20 minutes each day. There were constant reminders being
given to stay on task during this time of our school day.
During this week, I was still collecting data and planned to
wrap up my data collection the following week, to have a total of three full weeks’
worth of data.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
EDU 626 Research Study Journal
Hey readers! I am currently in my last course for my Master’s
program. I’ve been so busy with school, work, and just life in general to stop
and enjoy writing about my teaching adventures. I will be making a few updates as my class
goes along and sharing my research study findings and reflections with you.
My research study will focus on trying to find a connection
between reading comprehension improvement through the use of a web based
reading program. My official research question is as follows:
Will a web based reading intervention in conjunction with
regular reading instruction, help students who are at least one level behind in
reading, improve their reading comprehension skills?
Reading has always held a special place in my heart and I hope
that my research study gives me some answers on how to better utilize my professional resources to help my students.
Week 1:
During the first week, I sent home the Letters of Assent and
Parent Letters to let my families know about my project. This is essential because I must have permission from both the students and guardians before I start my research. I sent these forms
home on a Monday and by Friday, I had minimal responses. So the following Monday,
I sent the forms home again but I took the time to really explain to my
students why I was doing this. I told them how; I have always had a passion for
reading and that I felt as if they did not like reading. This led to a
classroom discussion on why reading was important. By Wednesday, of that week
I, more papers were returned. I would like to note that,
 |
| Student Motivation Survey that I am using. |
During this first week, the students took there pre- assessment
reading level test on Moby Max, which is the web based reading program that my
study focuses on. I will begin putting
that data together and will share that when I have received most of my permissions from students and parents. My students also took a
student survey to help determine how much motivation they have to read which is pictured above.
 |
| Moby Max is the web based reading program, I will be using. |
Week 2
The goal is to have my students do Moby Max for at least 20
minutes a day. This week during school we had a lot of interruptions with testing and a couple of school programs. I had to double up Moby Max time on a few
days, to make sure that I met the number of minutes that I needed for the week. I am
noting that I may have to do this several times throughout my study, as the
testing at my school will continue for the next few weeks.
Hopes:
I am hoping that this study will improve my student’s reading comprehension and in return, will help better prepare them for our state
testing in May. I look forward to sharing my findings with you and getting back
to sharing my teaching adventures as well.
Until the next the next time that life has checked me.
-Tia
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
It's a Good Day to take Care of You
This summer, I have taken a lot of time to do some
self-care. I define self-care, as doing things that give attention to you, physically,
emotionally, or mentally. I really had an emotion filled year and many of those
emotions were very heavy. Last year, I
found myself being broken down because I did not take the time to build myself
up. I was unhappy with the fact that I was overstaffed, placed in a school I
was unfamiliar with, that I was dealing with several unsupportive people in my
life.
I have decided that I did not like the way that I was
dealing with life last year and I know for sure, that I do not want to go back
to that place. It was super unhealthy
for me to fold into myself, to not talk about what I was going through, and to
not take time to do things for me. Well, I’m over that and I realize that I
need to take care of me first, in order to do for others. I think as teachers, we often find ourselves
just running on a motor and doing things that we know need to be done. It is
very easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of dedicating ourselves to the
success of our students, both academically and mentally. I cannot stress enough
to you, the importance of taking care of you, so that you can be in tip top
shape to change lives. Very cliché, I know but it still rings true. So, enjoy yourselves
over this break. Do something that you have never done or just do something
that you know will bring you joy.
I am hoping to return to school refreshed and ready to learn
the ropes of 4th grade. I am very excited to be branching out into
new territory and I have definitely been pinning my life away on Pinterest. I
have found many great ideas to implement in my new classroom and cannot wait to
share my 4th grade stories with you.
I am still in Grad school and after my summer classes; I
will only have 4 more to go. The end is near but the work is not done, lol. The
classes are definitely helping me improve my time management skills because I
have surely been on the struggle bus with that!
I literally have 2 weeks of summer left before Ms. Smith the
teacher returns and I am making sure that I cram as much fun as I can into my
schedule. This includes more Netflix binges of Greys Anatomy, a Maxwell
Concert, a trip to Gatlinburg, a new haircut and lots of time with family and
friends.
Here’s to new possibilities, adventures, learning curves,
and being filled with joy because that it what we deserve!
Until the next time that life has checked me.
-Tia
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
The Return of Shatia
I have contemplated writing a blog about my latest year of
teaching many times and each time I have had to stop myself. Honestly, each
time I have attempted, it would have just been an outlet to bash so many things
and that is not what I want to do. I
wish I could say that my year was full of nothing but delightful experiences
but it was not! I had a very trying year and I contemplated leaving teaching! A
lot of veteran teachers have told me that there would always be years that
shape you as a teacher and this year, was that year for me. Listen, after this
year I feel undefeated! I feel like I am the champ!
In an attempt not open old wounds, I will only address a
couple of situations from my school year. The first being, when I was told,
that I did not love my students. As a
teacher who cares deeply for her students and tries to go above and beyond for
them, I found this comment to be very hurtful. Whoever said that words will
never hurt me, I truly believe that they were in denial. I have never been so
hurt in my life! I am seriously holding back tears because if anything could
almost break my spirit, it would be you telling me that what I wake up every
day to do was worthless because I don’t love the very students that I am
teaching.
Nothing can prepare
you, for getting through an emotional pain that hurts so much, you can practically
feel it. Nothing! I went through an inner battle and I asked a lot of
questions, mainly, I asked, WHY????!!!!!!
I binged on Pepsi; it was literally the only thing that calmed my nerves
some days. Then one day as I was rushing around to prepare for dismissal, one
of my students gave me the firmest hug and told me that I was the best
kindergarten teacher ever, and happily skipped along to her spot on the carpet.
In that moment, I was reminded that what matters is how my kids feel about me.
How they know I love them because I told them every day that I did. How they know,
that I have high expectations for them. How they know, that I will tell them
when they have done wrong and how I expect them to tell me how they will do
better. How they know, that I will greet them every morning by name and with a
smile because I did it every day that school year. I was letting the views of a hateful person deter
me, when all I had to do was look at my students and see that I was giving them
all the best pieces of me.
I had a lot of “Come to Jesus,” moments this year, lol. In
particular, I will be returning to Maupin as a 4th grade teacher and
I will be participating in the Waldorf program. In my last blog about Maupin, out of anger
and confusion, I was unopen to this new program. Never say never because you just
never knowJ so
here is to taking risk, for putting myself out there, for daring to be
brilliant, and for being the best damn teacher ever! Shatia returns to Maupin,
the remix is always fire!
Until the next time that life has checked me!
-Tia
P.S. I had some major self-care in Jamaica during Spring
Break on my first cruise! Thanks to that self-care, I haven’t had a Pepsi or
soda since mid-April. Progress!!!!
Friday, April 1, 2016
Free Online Resources for Technology Based Projects
Listed below, are some
resources that can be used to get free images, videos, and music. It is very
important to acknowledge and state your resources.
Free Images!
Free Music!
Free Videos!
Happy Creating!
Until the next time that life has checked me.
-Tia
Monday, March 14, 2016
EDU 560: Georgetown College
Hello!
I am very excited to get through my
current class but also nervous! We have about 3 big assignments in the class
and one is to present a Professional Development that is technology related.
Let me just say that I feel butterflies when I think of presenting something to
adults. I remember when I took a Communications Class in Undergrad and how
nervous I would get when giving my speeches. I truly hope that I have grown out
of that phase. There is no time like the present, to get better at something I wasn’t
too good at.
I have been thinking about what I could
give the PD on and I have several ideas. Maybe I could present on how to create
Smart Board activities, ways to creatively present information to your students,
or how to use a Learning Management System. I am super excited to get started
and to learn new things! Hopefully that excitement will help with the public
speaking, lol!
Let me tell you, my Kinders are obsessed with our computers,
the Smart Board, and the class IPADS. They cannot get enough of them! It would
be super awesome if I could figure out how to incorporate the use of these
items into our daily schedule even more! Hmm, the wheels are turning! Let me
know if you have any suggestions on how I could do this or cool apps to
download.
Until the next time that life has checked me!
-Tia
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