How does peer goal-setting before Daily 5 increase student cognition?

To access the beginning of my Action Research Process use the archives on the right hand side of the screen. My blog lists posts from newest to oldest.



Friday, February 17, 2012

More Data and More Changes

Based on the data for the past few weeks not all students were thinking about their goals throughout the Daily 5 cycle.

This week I implemented the change that as students were coming to the floor for their mini-lesson they would do a 1 minute check in with their critical friend.

After surveying the class this week:

83 percent of students stated that they "Got it!" They shared their hope and goal with their critical friend and thought about it while they were participating in Daily 5.

17 percent of students stated they they were "On Their Way". These students shared their goal with their critical friend but may not have thought about their goal throughout Daily 5.

0 percent of students reported that they were an "Uh-Oh". No students did not share their goal and did not think about their goal throughout Daily 5.

I see the implementation of walking and talking with your critical friend after each Daily 5 to be a vital component to the success of a critical friend.

Walking and talking is where students place their book box on their desk and meet to walk to the floor together.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Data

Students were given this rubric:

Uh-Oh: I did not share my goals and hopes with my CF.

On my Way: I shared my goal Or my hope with my CF. I might have thoughts about my goal and hope during Daily 5.

Got it: My CF and I share our goals and hopes. I think about my goal and hope during Daily 5.

The first time students were surveyed zero percent said that they were an "Uh-Oh", 24 percent stated that they were "On my Way", and 76 percent stated that they "Got it!"

After gathering this data I changed the way I had students set their goal. First I had students decide if they were going to work on "C-Comprehension", "A-Accuracy", "F-Fluency", or "E-Expand Vocabulary". Once students decided which part of the menu they were working on I asked them to pick a specific strategy in that category and share the goal with their CF.

When students were given the same survey as above 1 week later:

1 percent said they were an "Uh-Oh"
31 percent said they were "On my way" and
68 percent said they "Got-it"

Using this information I have once again changed a procedure. At some point during our Daily 5 routine I now have the students check in with the CF. I also remind them of their goal several times by saying, "This will be our last Daily 5. Think back to your goal. What else can you do to meet your goal today?"

I look forward to giving the students the survey next week to see what new insights I gain.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Critical Thinking ?s #1

•What is the one thing you wish you had know before you start your inquiry process?

-I wish that before starting the inquiry process I would have known my learners. When I began the inquiry process I was gauging my knowledge on research and past experience. While these combined tools can be very powerful, each class has their own personality and perspective.

I am not sure that my process would have changed. However, I would be interested to have gathered a baseline on students participating in Daily 5 without a Critical Friend.

•What resources have you encountered that has contradicted your action research?

While "The Sisters" do not contradict my philosophy we have different philosophies. I see my most powerful teaching time with students to be during guided reading and the students' peers. I feel as though if I were to set their goal for them or with them each time their reflection would be too teacher guided rather than a motivation for the student. I also, am not ready to give up my guided reading time to meet with students in such a structured manner as "The CAFE" would suggest.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Student's Goals and Thoughts

Today as we started lining up for recess a student came up to me in a panic and said, "Mrs.Thomas I need to check in with my critical friend before going to recess. I need to tell her if I have met my goal." I thought it was interesting and exciting that even as we were lining up for recess this student was still conscious of the goal set with their critical friend.

Goals Set By...

Low average student: "I will work on word work today so that I can get better at spelling, reading and writing words."

Average student: "I will practice reading to someone today so I can practice my strategies when I get stuck and my partner can do 'Helpful Kangaroo'".

High student: "I will do read to self today so I can practice visualizing the story to help me understand it."

Most Daily 5 conversations...

"I did not meet my goal today because I forgot what my goal was."

"I met my goal today but not I need to practice reading the words I wrote."

"My read to self partner was a Helpful Kangaroo."

"I used Skippy Frog, Stretch Snake, and Flippy Dolphin today."

Click on this link to see visuals of what is posted under the "A for Accuracy" on our CAFE menu.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

After Break

After the Holiday Break all students were given a new Critical Friend. I decided to pair students of different abilities. I placed high students with low-average students and low kids with high-average students. After two weeks of observation I have not noticed a significant difference in the way the students share their goals, execute their goals, and check back in.

Here are some of the goals students have been sharing:

Low Student- Read to someone, read to self, and word work to get better at my writing.

Average Student- My goal is to read to somebody to get better at reading so when I see the words I can know them right away.

High Student- Do all the Daily 5s to get better at reading, writing and spelling.