I am continuing to adapt my GAME plan as I need to in order to progress. First of all, I have been working on reflection tools for my students. I have found several surveys that students can fill out regarding their work and have asked for fellow staff members to look at them and give me their input. I have also asked other colleagues how they help students reflect upon their growth. One colleague suggesting having students create short recordings. She suggested they record their goals at the beginning of a project, paper, or activity, and then record their thoughts after completion. I like this idea and feel I can incorporate it easily into my classroom, as my students all know how to use Voice Thread and create podcasts. In this case, my actions have led to some success in finding reflection tools that will work in my classroom. I would still like to learn how to help students reflect on smaller tasks within the classroom, such as daily lessons. I want to find resources to help students see what they learn on a daily basis. I have used exit cards in the past and would like to continue to add to that idea.
Secondly, I have been working on being accountable by finding a PLC. To date, I have had 5 staff members inquire about the book I am studying and blogging about. 5 does not seem like a large number, but it has only been about a week, and I work with a staff of about 40, so I am encouraged. I put information in each staff member's mailbox in regard to the PLC, and I think that has helped to spread the word. We begin blogging at the end of this week on the first chapter, and so I think I will find the conversation encouraging and it will help me find new ideas for the classroom. In addition to this online PLC, I would like to find 1-2 staff members who would be willing to hold me accountable in my professional learning. I am going to begin to inquire to see if anyone would be interested in meeting periodically to share ideas and concerns in order to help one another.
I am encouraged by the steps I have taken to meet my GAME plan, and I will continue to work toward its success.
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Glad to see that you're on your way to making a PLC. In my school district, our Superintendent is asking us to move towards having PLC's. At our faculty meeting this past week, I had to present a variety of information I learned at several conferences. What I didn't know until last week was that he was planning on filming it to show to administrators throughout VA in his meetings. Overall it went well, and I realized that we took our first steps in becoming a PLC.
ReplyDeleteAs far as helping students reflect on daily lessons, you could use a ticket out that has the students give themselves a daily grade and something they learned from the day's class. You can collect them at the end of the week and see how the students are progressing.
Survey's are a good tool but they need to be taken with skepticism. You must trust that your students are giving truthful information. I would fear that students say what you want to hear or what they think you want to hear and the information may be inaccurate. I really do not use surveys very much because I have found that the information for me personally has not been very effective. Maybe it was a poor survey as well?
ReplyDeleteAre surveys an accurate measure of reflecton? They are good tools for gathering information, but do they really ask the students to reflect on what they have learned. Maybe it is the writer in me that asks this question...
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of recording their goals and recording their progress. This allows them to see their work patterns. I agree with Travis that a TOD is a good way to find out what the students have learned from a day's lesson. You can even add a reflective question to it to see what the students thought of the lesson and if it accomplished what you set out to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteThe participation you are receiving on the PLC is encouraging. Several teachers will probably join after the blog has started and they are able to see the participation.