Applying Research in the Classroom

APPLYING RESEARCH IN THE CLASSROOM: Investigating Problem-Solving Instruction
From TEACHERS ENGAGED IN RESEARCH (NCTM 3-5) Christina Nugent

I really enjoyed reading this article and finding out how she monitored her students' progress. I have tried a similar approach in my classroom. I try to let problems/activities drive the instruction. I have students working in small groups and then have a whole class discussion. I, like Christina, experience "aha" moments, but it is hard to remember all of the these moments. Her notes from each problem are a great idea along with having students keep a portfolio. I also like the idea of giving a survey at the beginning of the year even though she didn't see much change in the scores. It might be interesting to have a few open ended questions on the survey. It is sometimes hard to figure out what students really think by having them circle numbers. They might have not been truthful at the beginning of the year on how they felt about problem solving. Having the students write about their experiences might be more helpful.
Overall, I feel more relaxed about trying an action research project. I sometimes struggle thinking about how I am going to measure everything. After reading her article and the first chapter in the Action Research book I feel better prepared to make a plan for collecting data in my classroom.