April Blog

Independent Component II:

ALL of April I was dedicated to my Independent Component. At first I didn't think it would be so much work, but all the small details are what made the research portion harder. Taking in the interest of every student made the project more complicated but also more personal. Each student was heard through this second time around compared to the first one where all I did was prepare a lesson. What made this part of my Senior Project special was the fact that I grew a lot closer to my students, even though it seemed to drag at parts I feel like it helped everyone all around.

Blog 19: Independent Component 2

Content:

LITERAL

(a) Include this statement: “I, Daisy Torres, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 31.5 hours of work.”

(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.

"Sixth Grade Math Worksheets." Free Printable Sixth Grade Math Worksheets. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 

Apr. 2015.

"Everyday Mathematics." Everyday Mathematics. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.

Another very helpful source was my second mentor Mr. Ball. I've been spending most/almost all of my hours in his classroom. He taught me how to manage the class and helped me plan my lesson and survey.

(c) Update your Independent Component 2 Log (which should be under your Senior Project Hours link)

You can look at these hours on my blog. 

(d) Explain what you completed. 

With my independent component I did service hours helping with many lessons in class as well as helping the students learn. I was able to take a survey with abstract answers and turn it into a lesson that would help the students in the long run. 

 
INTERPRETIVE
Defend your work and explain the component's significance and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work. Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work. 

This senior project component was significant because it is based around most of my best answer. I was trying to prove that by relating a lesson or subject with things that the students like then they will be able to enjoy the process and remember it for a longer period of time. Since I was a bit more experienced this time around I was able to handle a class on my own for longer lessons which helped me get the feel of how I had to teach my own lesson. I also learned a lot just by volunteering so often to get my hours done, by getting to know my students I was able to create a very personalized lesson because of the survey. That was a key part to this project, I learned so much from the prerequisites I gave myself that I realized what I needed for my actual lesson. 

(Below are pictures of the environment I worked in as well as screenshots of my created survey and worksheets.)

 
APPLIED
How did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped. 

This component helped me answer my EQ because I revolved it around the evidence I had found. I had controlled groups to see if relating the review sheet to what students liked would actually help, versus traditional numbers. I also took into account what students were interested in prior to trying to teach them a new topic. I feel like my results really proved what a teacher must do in order to help with long term memory for the end of the year tests. most students had said that lessons weren't fun and that they crammed to study for things like the CST, I tried to eliminate all the negative aspects of what they thought and applied my answers to them, and I have to say that even my mentor was impressed by how fast students were grasping the mini lessons I taught.

March Madness

This month at mentorship was a bit slower than others. Prep for testing has now begun and even though my best answer is to not teach to the test, this is what I am seeing most in class. The students seem to react normal to this because it's what they have been taught in years prior but I think if my mentor tried to teach her own way the students would find it more fun and would remember everything better than they do now. I hope that once everyone is back from spring break, the students also come back with the enthusiasm to learn everyday until summer.

Blog 18: Fourth Interview Preparation

Content: Post 20 open-ended questions you want to ask an expert in the field concerning your senior project. The focus of your questions should be on your answer to your EQ.

What is the most effective method to raise standardized test scores?

1. What is the most helpful source you turn to for new teaching methods?
2. Have you seen a change in student performance with the new Common Core State Standards?
3. How do you manage to keep your students on task at all times?
4. What was a method you used for the old California Standards test?
5. Is there any teaching method you implement that works no matter what you teach?
6. What is one method that definitely doesn't work in any classroom?
7. How do you adapt your students to new strategies? 
8.  What excites the students most about learning?
9. Do you think that creating level groups in class helps the students learn better? Why?
10. What do you think is the hardest part of getting high test scores at the end of the year?
11. Have you tried implementing the arts to teach new concepts? Did it work out?
12. How would you explain your personal teaching style?
13. Do you think the students should adapt to the test, or the test to the students? Why?
14. Should the parents be more involved in the students' learning?
15. How does Common Core training help you in the class?
16. Do you think some of the material you teach is outdated?
17. Would a technological approach help students raise their test scores? Why?
18. What is a struggle that people fail to see within a classroom?
19. How can a teacher get at least 75% of their class to pass with a Proficiency score?
20. How would you go about answering my essential question?

Blog 17: Third Answer

Content:



What is the most effective method to raise standardized test scores?  

One of the most effective ways to raise standardized test scores is by allowing a creative outlet during lessons. 

• Creativeness helps students retain information for longer periods of time. 
• When students are allowed to do something they love along with a lesson they become more attentive. 
• Students look forward to learning. 

Press, Associated. "Here's a 50-state Look at How the Common Core Is Playing out in the U.S." Deseret News National. N.p., 9 Sept. 2014. Web. 11 Sept. 2014 

I think this answer might be my second best, I feel like children and teachers both benefit from this method.

Finding Answers

Recently at mentorship I've had a lot of time to help students out one on one, and to see how they've progressed with their grades. I find that since Common Core is still very new, it's hard to try to help answer all their questions as well as trying to answer my EQ. It has been through research that I've come to find answers. I'm hoping that through my second independent component I can find an answer that fits my needs. 

Blog 16: Answer 2

1.  What is your EQ?

What is the most effective teaching method to raise standardized test scores? 

2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

One effective teaching method to raise standardized test scores is to not teach to the test. 

3.  What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

Another teaching method to raise standardized test scores is to teach with alignment. 

4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.

-organization 

-time management 

-learning with discipline 

5.  What printed source best supports your answer?

"Teaching Challenges: The Challenges of Teaching." Teaching Challenges: The Challenges of Teaching. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2014. 2009

6.  What other source supports your answer?

Another source that helped me come up with this is my mentor. 

7.  Tie this together with a  concluding thought.

I feel like my second answer won't be my best answer but I know it'll move me along in the process of finding more examples and activities to go song with my presentation.