Interview with all three members of L.R.E!! Read comment and retweet!

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Your classroom...your look

Okay- I’ll be honest I’m not big into all the ‘frou frou’ teacher stuff HOWEVER- something I learned the hard way even if decoration isn’t your ‘thing’ come up with something that ties your room together.
1- Pick a theme-
Doesn’t have be anything major but enough that when people walk in it looks like everything fits. (BTW- just getting border that’s all the same with solid backgrounds is an EASY fix)
BULLETIN BOARDS
Basic boards to have ALL YEAR:
Calendar
Classroom management (rules and such)
Student work board
Word wall (this can be an actual wall)
Pictures will be attached of some examples.
CALENDAR-here’s the deal buy one good set at the teacher store laminate it and use it all year. Buy the reusable wax hooks put them on each number.
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Regardless of what management tool/s you use you should have a board that prominently displays your expectations. This should also have space to show a way that students are meeting these expectations.
STUDENT WORK BOARD:
Write something like ‘Our Student Stars’ and put some construction paper with paperclips on it. DONE
WORD WALL:
Either punch out the Alphabet with your schools die cut machine and laminate the letters or buy some. Find a wall with some space and put the letters up in order and so that you can add words under each letter easily throughout the year.
Posters
Only put up posters that you will ACTUALLY use! Inspirational posters are great IF they fit you- if not get a general one you’ll refer to and put it up.
I would stick to posters that you can refer the kids to when they are working. Make sure that they know that they are there and you’ll save yourself some extra work throughout the year.
Big thanks to the following teachers for offering examples from their rooms:
Jennifer Thomas-5th
Kerstin Allen-1st
Rasheda Green–5th
Katy Rohr-Kdg.
NEXT UP… Classroom management tools

Action Research Draft Report

Elizabeth Bostic

Lamar University- Educational Administration

Hickman Elementary- Garland Independent School District

Using Music, and Small Group Intervention and Technology to  Increase Science, Math and Reading Test Scores

      Our reading scores on the STAAR test and in comparison to our math scores and our district scores have grown since the first time the test was administered.  For several years it was our fifth grade scores that made our campus acceptable on the state rating score.  As a fifth grade teacher I’ve been looking for ways to improve our reading and math scores.  Although we’ve made improvement in our score from unacceptable to Recognized we can’t seem to get past recognized to Exemplary. The fact that we just couldn’t s seem to get over the hump really inspired my project.

My hope is that the students will take on the responsibility for their own learning – that they would realize they have control over their actions. Students in the fifth grade science classes through teacher guidance will be allowed to use blogs to collaborate and elaborate science learning.  For many students this will be the first time to use such a collaborative technological resource.  I met with the fifth grade teachers and explained my action research project.    I am hoping that this new format will excite and encourage science communication and collaboration that will facilitate science learning.

OMG- ok so this is a post

Okay I barely made it this week (I hate layovers) but here's what i've got!
Technology and music to convey and sustain vocabulary over subjects

My action research will take place in a Title one school 5^th grade with the following demographics:

34% Asian

33% Hispanic

23% African American

8% Other

3% Caucasian

My sample will include 98 students so and 5 teachers that will teach the same lessons to show consistency through the diversity of teaching styles and students.   This is also a team that has shown the most likelihood of implementing the program consistently as written.

DONE!! :)

Soo....Real Life Research Action Examples

Wow- this was an assignment filled with information but man- it was big! So- first thing I learned was that I thought I knew what I wanted to do for my action research blog but I think I may have too many pots in the kettle interest wise.  I read Danas  CART (Common Action Research Topics) and they did seem to tap into some of my interest but HOW do I narrow it down??? Grrr...so I've decided to make a list of things I am CERTAIN i want to address based on the CART:
1. Curriculum Development (I see a lot of alignment issues there)
2. Staff Development (teachers without buy in or without passion for information)
3.  School Performance (Because i don't see how you can do curriculum development without affecting the curriculum)

okay- this was my break between parts of the assignment- now back to work!!!