11/7/2011 Research Update

Dear Blog,
  How I have thought about you each week for awhile now.  Why have I stayed away?  At first it was because I didn't get going on my research right away.  My classroom schedule is crazy-busy, and I have been frustrated with so much to do and so little time!  I wasn't getting my research in, and struggled to blog about it.
 
  Our first Inquiry Project meeting was on October 26, 2011.  I was totally impressed with the way the students sat in their groups and asked questions about their topic. They rated themselves and each other high, but I saw it in action.  Our second session was on October 27.  There was almost the same degree of on-task behavior and engagement.  I gave the students some books from my local library to begin with.  Students asked more questions about their topic and began their research.  Our third session was on November 1, in the library.  Students worked with the librarian and myself to find more books to learn about their topic.  After this session, students went to the adjoining computer lab, and used web sites the librarian, a coworker, and I had come up with.  Students were allowed to print the documents they felt would help them.  The research moves ahead!  On November 4, students used the two classroom computers and their book resources, and added sticky notes to their materials.  They did this with a substitute, and some of their ratings are not as high as before.  Today, November 7, we met again.  Students began to compile their sticky notes.  I took a picture of a student as she stuck the notes on her research folder.   I watched her group go through them and decide which ones they wanted to include in their final project.  Some notes had gotten pulled out of a book without a complete thought being written.  I think the lesson was learned.  Two groups worked on the computer to see if they could answer a question that still lingered for them.  Another group thinks they are ready to begin their poster, and the last group thinks so, too. 

I have taken pictures of the students at work.  I want to get some video clips, but forget to request the flip camera when we meet.  I have interacted with students throughout, but find it difficult to write notes on their individual evaluation sheet that I have for each of them.  I also need to be documenting reflections of this process.  I will get the poster board and we will discuss what makes a great presentation.   Students will need to plan out their presentation before beginning their final project.