Action Research in English Subject

|Who is the author of the study (i.e., insider or|insider - teacher |insider- teacher |insider- teacher |

Education in classrooms are getting a different twist these days. In order to get kids more engaged at learning, teachers are trying to figure out ways to get then interested. With a handful of technology available that can distract kids from learning, teachers are using that same technology as a tool for learning.

Apply principals of effective teaching based on educational theory, laws, county and school policy, and ethical practice in the comprehensive

In my English 1010 class, I have learned to do a number of things through writing essays. I have written a Literacy Narrative, a Discourse Community Analysis, and a Writing Research essay. Firstly, I have learned to identify how an author’s purpose, audience, genre, and context determine effective writing. The purpose of the literacy narrative was to help me understand myself better as a writer (Jones 1). My teacher was the intended audience of the narrative. The genre of the narrative was non-fiction because it was about my experience as a writer. The context of writing made my writing more interesting and more effective. All those things make effective writing because you have to know what you need to write about and who is receiving your writing. I displayed these skills by going into detail of my experiences with reading and writing through my life. In the narrative I shared how fun and exciting it was when my second grade class got the opportunity to write a book, A Book of Future Astronauts (Writing is Good).

The purpose of this paper is to explain the rationale regarding instruction and decision making, analysis of student learning, and reflection of personal performance within the literacy assessment and instruction analysis project. The project entails five lessons administered to a student to provide help with writing, and ultimately, to help the child improve in his or her writing skills. This document includes background information, goals, assessment results, instructional plans, and a personal reflection piece. This project aims to provide best practices and explicit instruction to a student in the subject of writing, ultimately hoping to bring the child to a higher writing level by

The nature of writing has changed in the past century. While writing still remains a form of visual communication, much of this change has been a result of technological advancements such as, from pen to paper or from a typewriter to a networked computer. The changes and expansion in the ways we are able to write today have brought about changes in writing pedagogy as well. The teaching of writing has been part of formal schooling in the United States for over 200 years (Kean 7). One major pedagogic change in United States’ education has to do with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. These standards have led to a change in the instruction of writing in schools. This paper, will focus on instructional changes of writing over time and current expectations for writing abilities as whole.

Weekly, one-page response papers are assigned based on their readings, which helps students understand my writing expectations, and gain confidence as the transition from generalized and vague language to academic writing. In class writing assignments, which deal with key questions from their reading, also helps students make the transition. After reading “Why I Write” by Joan Didion, I invite students to write a short essay about their writing process. Each reading and writing assignment escalates in difficulty, with the intention to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and overcome fear about their writing process, while increasing their academic language.

These posts are usually linked to other websites where the author will give teachers advice on how to effectively use IWBs for educational purposes. The expectation would be for teachers to use Pinterest to discover new methods for using IWB activities in the classroom that go beyond the typical use of a projector or normal whiteboard. For example, within the 10 Ways to use your Interactive Whiteboard post, teachers are encouraged to use the IWB as a way to take attendance children walk into class or using Powerpoint games to appeal to students kinesthetic learning needs. In Interactive Whiteboard Success Tips, Natalie Lorenzi encourages teachers to utilize “distance learning” to allow the teacher to roam around the classroom instead of being stuck at the front by their desk; students can also manipulate the IWB activity from a distance to avoid having a whole class full of students trying to push their way to the board. These activities give the students the ability to make their learning experience their own, and teachers get the benefit of seeing their students stay engaged in the lesson throughout the class

Technology is a helpful tool for teaching the writing process, and Marchisan and Alber (2001) concluded that writers can be taught to write using the writing process approach paired with tools of technology, direct instruction, and committed well-trained teachers. Graham, (2008), Graham & and Perin (2007a), and Rogers & and Graham, (2008), agreed that technology makes the process of writing easier and often provides very specific types of support. Word processing provides at least four advantages: (a) revisions are easily made, (b) publishing is professional-looking, (c) typing provides an easier means for children with fine motor skill challenges to produce text, and (d) word-processing programs have software programs, such as spell and stylistic checkers designed to reduce specific types of miscues. Other tools are speech synthesis (i.e., the writer’s spoken words are transcribed to electronic text) and word-prediction programs (i.e., the computer program reduces the key strokes by predicting the writer’s next word). This is helpful for students with difficulties with spelling and the mechanics of writing. In addition, outlining and semantic mapping software can aide with the planning process, and the use of computer networks and the Internet can help to promote communication and collaboration among writers.

For example, students who learn better by listening can understand more fully with audio and videos shown on the board. (Bell ) For visual learners, students can watch as the lesson develops across the board. Research has shown that students of all ages respond well to interactive white boards. With everyone loving the boards so much, students will jump at every chance to use the board. Interactive Whiteboards make kids want to learn. It makes them more willing to listen and focus on the lesson. Fifty years ago, classrooms didn’t have this kind of technology. Classrooms only had black boards or white boards. (Bell )

The purpose of action research is not only collect data but to aim for useful data that can be used to change the lives around us. According to Esterberg, “action researchers see knowledge as power” (pg. 137) thus meaning if individuals can see the inequality around them and are educated on it then they can use the “power” to change society and promote equality.

The focus of my action research will be in first-time-students, students going through Intensive English curriculum in order to comply with Homeland Security criteria that international students must be English proficient before taking academic classes. I believe that we should do everything possible to ensure that they succeed and not place roadblocks in their paths.

Since beginning to write papers in English class, I have had countless successes and failures. While many of my English classes have taught me how to improve my writing, I have not learned very much in others. My most recent English class was last year, my sophomore year. My class was particularly undersized; therefore, it gave each student the opportunity to have additional individual attention. Throughout the class I experienced high points, weaknesses, and even difficulties that I never overcame. Overall, my writing skills improved, but only marginally.

In Action Research group of research associates involves in various stages of action research like planning, action, analysis, observing each and every task that is performed. The cyclic nature of Action Research means that the requirement for activity arrangements to be adaptable. According to the Kurt Lewin 's model, the covering of activity and reflection is planned to allow changes in arrangements as the individuals learn from experience (Huxham, 1996).

There is a growing trend in the use of technology in the classroom. As a teacher, I am always looking for ways to use manipulatives in my lessons to increase meaning and authenticity for students. I would love to keep my students engaged, motivated and interactive in the classroom and still be able to get through the content each day. In order to achieve this, I need to have an arsenal of tools to draw from. That is why I agree with (Tataroglu & Erduran, 2010) as stated in the International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education (IEJEE) that “The use of technologies like IWBs in the classroom can provide teachers and students convenience and variety. “