Collecing Data Can Have Valuable Implications to One's Practice

Hello again, my friend,

Well, what a week it has been! As much as I love getting away to a warmer climate on March Break, it can be rather difficult to get back into the swing of things. I have been busy doing lots of catching up and am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the work I have to do before the end of the term. I can imagine you are feeling it, too.

This week's topic for reading and discussion is great. It is lots of fun to be able to apply things we are learning in this course into our practice. The ideas around the procedures and techniques of collecting data can have so many applications in what we do especially in assisting in determining where gaps may be. I decided to use my critical research question, "How can I improve parental support of struggling students with their home reading program?" to create a survey for the parents of my students. The problem is I am not in the classroom at the moment and am therefore not sure how I can get some feedback. I think I will ask members of the class who may have children in primary grades to take my survey. What do you think? Any ideas to help me in this area? I would appreciate it if you would be one of those people as you have young children. Just copy and paste the address below to access it.I wish I could figure out how to create a link but I have been unsuccessful.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NJTBTM3

I am also in the process of trying to determine a good situation to observe. I think it will probably involve my family somehow although I haven't yet decided what to observe. I really like your observation idea and, as I mentioned earlier, this type of data collection can have an effect on what the school is doing. It will provide information that can be applied to and/or used to assess the Lunch Bunch club. Wonderful idea! My school does something similar in that students create clubs under the direction of a teacher. This gives students ownership of their idea while providing opportunities for other students to take part, if they have the desire or interest in doing so. And yes, it makes the playground a little less busy at lunch time.

Interesting that you would get a call from Statistics Canada conducting an Aboriginal Canadian survey at the same time we are in the process of creating and conducting our own. I will be very interested in the results of this as well particularly since I am involved in a First Nations course and we have had numerous discussions about the education of Canada's First Nations students. On another note, I tend not to take part in interviews over the phone as I am never sure if they are being completed by reliable sources or not. However, I'm glad you did this one as I am hopeful it will provide valuable information for educators of First Nation students.

Have fun collecting data. Don't forget to take my survey.
Chat again soon,
Catherine
P.S. Glad you had a storm day yesterday. What a wonderful gift they are!