Inquiry+Plan+1

Second grade team Fall Inquiry Cycle Plan Sept 28, 2010

Content Area: Writing

**Refining the question**


 * Specific inquiry question(s)** that will ground the action steps:

How can we help students write clear reflections about their learning?


 * What we would like to have happen**

In writing: We would like kids to use the mini-lesson (with prompting, and then without prompting) and then to be able to articulate what they are working on. This means they try out whatever strategy (or aspect of quality) you introduce in the mini-lesson.

In general: We want students to know how to find the learning targets in the room, be able to articulate what the targets are, and explain how their work is helping them get better at the target. Then we would like students to begin to be able to do this in writing.

Students aren't aware of the targets. Students can't remember the targets. Students don't know how to connect the target to what they are doing. Students aren't very good at writing.
 * An obstacle to reaching this goal**

**Continuing the Plan**

If we give students more opportunities to orally reflect on their work, their writing will be more organized, make more sense, and reflect deeper thinking.
 * Theory of action** : (If we…. Students will…)
 * Resources / information / background:**

Each day ask 5 kids what they are doing at writing; write down what they answer, and what they are really doing. (They may say what they are supposed to say but not really do it.)
 * What data will we collect?**

Everyone collects data for first 15 minutes of writing. DO NOT CONFERENCE or PROMPT. Get data on all 20 kids twice this week. (In Bumblebees' room we do it on Thursday this week, and then next Wed. -- we'll only have one data point for each kid for this week.)

Sample data collection sheet: [|Writing Data for inquiry cycle 1.doc]

Collect data at the beginning of the cycle (next week or two?) and then at the end.
 * How will we measure students’ achievement to see how it changes as a result of this work?**

**Instructional strategies to try**

 * Ask, “What are you working on today?"
 * Give a moment on the rug for kids to visualize what they are going to do when they get to their seat / what the learning target is. Thumbs up when you know it; raise your hand if you have a question or you're not sure.
 * Thumbs up if you know what what the learning target is; if you don't know, stay on the rug with the teacher
 * Ask students to restate the target in their own words
 * Red, Yellow, Green plastic cups to indicate your comfort with the learning target
 * Data collection that is also instructional: ask students for evidence that they are working on the learning target. Then ask them how what they are doing is helping them get better at the target. Figure out the best QUESTIONS for us to ask in order to get good answers; figure out what good answers sound like.
 * Then start to practice more oral reflection. Do shared writing of reflections: what we did today and how it helps us get better at the target. Move toward students being able to reflect themselves in writing.

For Nov. 11th we will each collect data and have information about who knows the targets and how they articulate what they are doing and how it helps them get better at the target. Data can be collected in all subjects.
 * What will be the first artifacts we will collect?**

Use this form:

[|Learning target data collection.doc]


 * Implementation Plan**

Collect data week 1 Look at data / decide next steps
 * Steps we will take:** **Who is responsible?** **Time Frame** (Daily, weekly, other)


 * Sharing our learning**

How/when will individual team members report back to the group about their instructional strategies and results?

How/when will the team prepare for sharing the preliminary data to the whole K-2 Team? (Note: The team is expected to document their actions with a description of instructional strategies used, provide samples of student work or other assessments and provide a written reflection on the inquiry work/learning.)