Jason Stives

4/24/17
Teacher as a Researcher
Rutter
Kids Notes Project
In March, I began student teaching in Ms. Iglios second grade classroom at

Chippefield Elementary School in Stroudsburg PA. Starting on St. Patricks Day, I

began to take anecdotal/observation notes on all my students in my classroom.

These notes were used not only to help me learn how to collect data, but also be

able to get to know my students individually. I have done observations and

anecdotal before but, this project was a challenge in many different areas. The three

areas I will focus on is, how I collected data, how I analyzed the data, and how it

allowed me to learn about my students and the datas use.

When it came to collecting data, I knew that I wanted something that was

simple and quick. What I managed to do was find various anecdotal sheets through

my own files and ones online. I also knew that I as a teacher am very organized and

everything must have a place. So, what I decided to do was to take a three ring

binder, buy file folders and hole-punch them, and write each students name on a

label and paste to the tab of each of the folders. Then, I found paper clip tabs and

wrote each students class number on the individual tabs. This allowed me to easily

flip through the students information. The file folders also allowed me to keep my

data inside. I must say that I was very happy keeping a binder handy because

everything was located in one place. When it came to documenting information, I

decided to use Post-It notes and anecdotal sheets. Over the first week, I found that

the sheets very exhausting because I would flip page by page to get info. Going

back to the drawing board, I stayed specifically with Post-it notes. My main concern
was losing the post-its but, they stayed in the binder very well. Using Post-It notes

was simple and easy to use anytime in the classroom. I could keep a pack in my

pocket and write notes down at any time I felt it was needed. Most of the time, I

collected data when students were doing daily five or I/E because it allowed me to

observe and write notes. I could also ask questions and write down responses. One

main challenge I found when collecting data was doing it religiously. I say this

because I will admit to have missed days of note taking because of teaching or

being focused on other areas needed in the daily life of the classroom. What I came

to learn was that as a teacher, I need to constantly be changing my methods of

collecting data. I did collect math exit tickets as a way to store info, but also to see

where students fall in the math curriculum. Youll see in my notes some are dated

and some arent. This was an issue because I had known my students before. I

learned very quickly that I need to date everything even if the action didnt occur in

that second.

After collecting data and organizing them into folders, I then had to analyze

the data. I obviously cant give post it notes with my handwriting on it, so I took the

data and typed it into my computer. The three categories we were told to write for

was Academic, Behavior, and Social/Emotional. In terms of organizing the data, I

used a table chart with all my students names on it. I then broke down the rows

into the three areas. When finally having all data written, I was able to see how

much data I truly collected in all, and what areas I focused on the most. In terms of

my classroom, I found to have collected more academic data. I have collected

behavior but have found a lot of data to be repeated. This caused a struggle

because I sometimes felt as if I was collecting and organizing the same type of data

over and over again. However, the benefit to organizing my data into groups was
that I could find where I as a teacher/researcher needed to start doing more focus

on. This will guide me to really get to know my students in other areas besides the

academic level. I have to also know my students on the various other levels

because as research shows, all areas of development intertwine together.

In the final days of the project, I began to fully analyze in all but, each day

while typing up the data, I could see what curriculum areas I should focus on, and

what modifications I need to make for each and every one of my students. By

collecting data, I was able to pick up on patterns such as that most of my students

tend to lose focus more in math than in any other subject. This allowed me to come

up with new ideas to how I need to engage my students and be able to analyze my

teaching practices. I also was able to see a flow of various behaviors. Most

behaviors dealt with losing focus and being able to stay focused. Others dealt with

calling out and staying in seats. I also used this data to share with my teacher so

that we can work as a group to come up with new and interesting methods to

classroom management, assessment and lesson implementation. One strategy of

formal assessing that I had newly implemented was using cards with the class dojo

characters on it. This then was copied on green, yellow and red paper and

laminated for students to use when needing help. I then could document mentally

or physically who I tended to the most, and that allows me to find who is struggling

the most and who I need to keep an eye on while teaching.

Overall, I find that by doing this project, I was able to learn a lot about my

students. I find already having class time with these students during Primary II had

helped me. However, I can guarantee I didnt know much until I began this project.

What I came to learn from completing this project was that it is all about time

management and finding where the best times to document work are. I felt like I
was the teacher in the classroom taking notes on my own students. It also

encouraged me to want to find out more and be more involved with the staff and

parents in the classroom. I also learned that it can be difficult as a teacher to

document all areas and all times. When I was teaching all day, I found at times that

I would miss taking notes for weeks. I find that this was also a mixture of time

management and being too involved in getting work done for the classroom itself

such as lesson plans and classroom related projects. However, when I have my own

classroom, I will also need to do all the work on my own so on top of writing lesson,

modifying content, and doing professional work in the classroom, I will need to

document all I can about every individual student. I find that one strategy that

would have greatly helped would have been an interest survey to get a sense of

how I can change curriculum to match the interests of my students. This would have

helped in taking notes and making my information about my students stronger.