CP Blog Entry #5 What compelling information have you found during your research?

During my research, I was beginning to not find much more information than I originally found.  This made me question my project and how to go about implementing it.  In fact, while researching, my own research of the LESRA model was appearing as a new resource to use!  This method may not be backed by the research I was looking for.  After speaking with several other colleagues, I decided that the LESRA model may not be beneficial at this time.  I was originally going to use both the LESRA model and the MFAS assessments and I now plan to just use the MFAS assessments.  I have found more information on using the MFAS assessments and this method would still meet the needs of the students as well.  One of the best websites is CPALMS.  This method is to check the students' understanding before instruction and again after to see their misconceptions of a concept.

Just Some Thoughts

Okay, so I tried to jump right into the LESRA model Change Project!  Well, that did not go so well the first week of school, nor did the second week of school!  Yikes!  My class (being lower than expected) and a very young group, we needed (and still need) to practice routines and procedures longer than my regular routine.  We are taking things slow.  Before I let them "explore" we need to know the proper way to "explore" without having major chaos.  When I thought of using this method, I was at the end of the kindergarten year and those students were well on their way to understand the dynamics of my rules and expectations.  So, like I said, we are taking things very slow.  Once I have them in order with how to use the manipulatives, workmats, voice levels, etc. then the LESRA model will run much smoothly!  :)

Is your initial data supporting or not supporting your Change Project goal?

Hello!  I have been back to school since July 2015 because we are a year round school.  My class this year is lower than my previous year as for data.  The data I have for this year definitely supports a need.  Even though we divided up the classes evenly by levels (and I requested an average class) our overall "average" is well below last year's group of students.  My group is showing the average scale score from I-ready as 339 for Algebra & Algebraic Thinking and the 2nd lowest is Numbers and Operations as 343.  I am excited to begin the LESRA model but my routines are important to model first.  I'll explain more in my next post.