Using Action Research To Empower North Carolina Educators A Race to the Top Initiative NC Department of Public Instruction Educator Effectiveness Division

Writing in Math with Unit Portfolios Mary Maxon Brawley Middle School

Group Introductions Your Task: 1.On Your Smore click on the introduction Kahoot link 2.Type in code and select a name 3.Let’s find out about ourselves

What is Action Research? Main Goals Include: Positively impact student outcomes Identify and promote effective instructional practices Create opportunities for teachers to become reflective practitioners Share research results with other educators Mills, Geoffrey E, Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, 2014

What is Action Research? ● Identify an area of focus ● Develop an action research plan ● Implement action research plan in your classroom or school ● Collect, analyze, and interpret data ● Share findings to inform practice Mills, Geoffrey E, Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, 2014

Research of Practice What situations do you want to improve in your classroom? Can they be addressed with research, reflection and implementation? Brainstorm ideas with your table for a few minutes Share on Padlet

What Does Research say about my focus area? “The practice of writing can enhance the brain’s intake, processing, retaining, and retrieving of information.” “Through writing, students can increase their comfort with and success in understanding complex material, unfamiliar concepts, and subject-specific vocabulary.” Willis, Judy, The Brain-Based Benefits of Writing for Math and Science Learning, 2011

What Does Research say about writing and math? READ ~ REFLECT ~ SHARE – Read the articles(green copies) at your table – Highlight three points on a sticky – Discuss with your table – Share Sticky Notes on Padlet

Writing in Math with Unit Portfolios Increase procedural knowledge with writing in the classroom for my math students Help students understand the why and the how Incorporate writing, vocabulary and procedural knowledge into each unit Use iBooks Author to produce a final product of all units

Action Research Plan Portfolio Unit Topics  Create eight units aligned with marking period curriculum guide  Two units per marking period  Implemented after unit was completed  UNIT PORTFOLIO CURRICULUM GUIDE UNIT PORTFOLIO CURRICULUM GUIDE

Action Research Plan CREATE A GRADE LEVEL CURRICULUM GUIDE  Create eight units for your course  Use grade level curriculum guides  Curriculum Guide links are located on the Smore for each grade level  Template is on Google Docs for you to share as a group or pink paper copies are at each table

SUMMARY PROCEDURES QUESTIONS VOCABULARY Action Research Plan UNIT PORTFOLIO DETAILS 1.Vocabulary 2.Questions 3.Procedures 4.Summary

SUMMARY PROCEDURES QUESTIONS VOCABULARY Action Research Plan UNIT VOCABULARY A.Choose 4-6 vocabulary terms for the unit B.Students provide a definition from the glossary C.Students define terms in their own words D.Students provide a visual example

SUMMARY PROCEDURES VOCABULARY Action Research Plan QUESTIONS UNIT QUESTIONS A.Students are asked to answer 3-4 questions pertaining to the unit B.All answers must be in full sentences. C.Vary difficulty of the questions

SUMMARY PROCEDURES VOCABULARY Action Research Plan QUESTIONS UNIT PROCEDURES A.Students are given three problems to solve B.They must provide a title, descriptive sentence, example, and step by step details for solving C.Setup using a table format D.Procedure table sampleProcedure table sample

SUMMARY PROCEDURES VOCABULARY Action Research Plan QUESTIONS UNIT SUMMARY A.Essay or media format B.Highlight major points to summarize C.Provide graphic organizer D.Students reflect on the unit – Knew, Know, Still do not Understand

SUMMARY PROCEDURES QUESTIONS VOCABULARY Action Research Plan UNIT DETAILS UNIT DETAILS SAMPLE

SUMMARY PROCEDURES QUESTIONS VOCABULARY Action Research Plan Your Task Using unit 7 and/or unit 8 from the curriculum guide 1.Create Vocabulary 2.Create Questions 3.Create Procedures 4.Create Summary Details Online Template or Gold Paper copies at table

Student Samples Vocabulary Questions Procedures Summary

Teacher Time Management Create Guide Create Unit Collect Portfolios Grade Portfolios 1 Hour 1.5 Hours Each 20 Minutes/Class 4.5 – 7.5 Hours

Student Time Management Setup Files Peer Edit Group Q&A Homework Minutes 40 Minutes Each Minutes/Unit Minutes Over 2-3 weeks

Unit Section Struggles Refer to my Wiki for a more in-depth analysis of the data collected for my research

iBooks Author Student math folders Ready for iBooks Author Just copy and paste into iBooks Follow up with pictures and online quizzes for each unit Student iBooks Author samples Thanks to AJ our Apple Rep for our class visit

References Adu-Gyamfi, Kwaku, Bosse, Michael J., & Faulconer, John A., (2010). Assessing Understanding Through Reading and Writing in Mathematics. International Journal for Mathematics Teaching and Learning. Schinch-Mikel, Amelie, Pugalee, David K., (2014). Writing in Middle Grades Mathematics. Association for Middle Level Education Smith, B. Sidney. "Writing for a Math Class." Platonic Realms Minitexts. Platonic Realms, 13 Mar Web. 13 Mar Willis, Judy, The Brain-Based Benefits of Writing for Math and Science Learning, 2011 Images 18lptfrh56eq7jpg.jpg, images.jpeg, Unknown-1.jpeg, Unknown.jpeg, Unknown-2.jpeg, images.png

Conclusion of Presentation Thank you for your participation. Please complete participation survey on your Smore Mary Maxon Brawley Middle School