This week I have continued to observe my students with my tally sheet and making notes in the margins. I have noticed that as students are getting more comfortable with this type of learning, they are doing better in working in class. They have worked together very well and have started to ask more and more in questions in class which has been awesome because it gives me a chance to see what they are understanding as well as get to know them better as individuals.
Today (October 29th), I had my first focus groups. I split the boys into two groups, one of three and one of 4 and asked them seven questions, which led to more as we discussed and new questions arose. I was surprised by the amount of talking that they did, even my quieter students talked about this type of learning. I got the chance to talk about how this type of learning was helpful for them because they got to ask more questions and they are getting more comfortable in class because they are getting to know me better.
Yesterday I had to get after the boys for not focusing, being off task, and being too loud. Afterwards, it seemed like the boys started to shy away from asking questions. Today in the focus groups I got the chance to talk to them about the fact that when I get after them, it’s because they are just doing something wrong, but that I’m not mad at them, but it’s my job to get them back on track with their work. I told them that it seemed like many of them stopped asking questions yesterday and to remember that I still like them even when I have to correct them. They seemed to respond well. It was neat to have a conversation with the boys because that was the most I have ever heard some of them talk and they really seemed to open up about how much they are enjoying class now. I am going to keep the same focus groups and talk to them in two weeks with the same questions, I told them this so that they can think about the different questions throughout the week and hopefully give me different answers as they have had time to think.
I also gave my second survey to the boys today and I will give them two more before our data collection ends. I tried to talk to them beforehand about being more specific and writing something other than I don’t know or nothing.
I think that my fears of if I’m collecting good information were put to rest after having focus groups with my boys and them actually giving me answers that I can use as my data. I will be transcribing this weekend so I hopefully don’t feel as overwhelmed with information at the end of Week #11.
Today (October 29th), I had my first focus groups. I split the boys into two groups, one of three and one of 4 and asked them seven questions, which led to more as we discussed and new questions arose. I was surprised by the amount of talking that they did, even my quieter students talked about this type of learning. I got the chance to talk about how this type of learning was helpful for them because they got to ask more questions and they are getting more comfortable in class because they are getting to know me better.
Yesterday I had to get after the boys for not focusing, being off task, and being too loud. Afterwards, it seemed like the boys started to shy away from asking questions. Today in the focus groups I got the chance to talk to them about the fact that when I get after them, it’s because they are just doing something wrong, but that I’m not mad at them, but it’s my job to get them back on track with their work. I told them that it seemed like many of them stopped asking questions yesterday and to remember that I still like them even when I have to correct them. They seemed to respond well. It was neat to have a conversation with the boys because that was the most I have ever heard some of them talk and they really seemed to open up about how much they are enjoying class now. I am going to keep the same focus groups and talk to them in two weeks with the same questions, I told them this so that they can think about the different questions throughout the week and hopefully give me different answers as they have had time to think.
I also gave my second survey to the boys today and I will give them two more before our data collection ends. I tried to talk to them beforehand about being more specific and writing something other than I don’t know or nothing.
I think that my fears of if I’m collecting good information were put to rest after having focus groups with my boys and them actually giving me answers that I can use as my data. I will be transcribing this weekend so I hopefully don’t feel as overwhelmed with information at the end of Week #11.