Assignment 1: October 8, 2024 - Pose a Problem of Practice:
Assignment: Crafting Your Research Question
This year I am focusing on how to utilize district and classroom ELA assessments to create targeted skills groups. While being mindful of the wide range of skills and needs in the class, my goal is to create engaging activities in an intentional way.
A challenge I aim to address is how to be a data-driven and efficient teacher that infuses creativity, choice and joy. Often these two elements of teaching feel opposing, but I want to learn how to prioritize the value of both.
As a result of these efforts, I hope to see my students fully immersed and excited about their learning. I hope to establish a culture based on joyful learning - a place where both myself and my students thrive.
In order to investigate this problem, I will be building my repertoire of playful, engaging, and intentional activities and learning structures that target students’ ELA goals. I will incorporate newfound knowledge from Yvonne Liu-Constant’s A Pedagogy of Play. I will explore ways to measure student engagement through surveys and observations.
Peer Comments: Hi Jenna, Your focus on using district and classroom ELA assessments to create targeted skills groups is such a thoughtful approach, especially considering the diverse needs in your class. Balancing data-driven practices with creativity and joy is definitely a challenge, but it sounds like you’re committed to finding that sweet spot! I'm excited to see how incorporating insights from A Pedagogy of Play will enhance your teaching and boost student engagement—those surveys and observations will be great tools to track progress along the way! - Sue Luft