Introduction
My name is Kristy Morgan
My student teaching placement is with combination class of 29 Transitional kindergarteners (TK) and kindergartners. TK is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. Children can enter TK at the age of four but in order to qualify must turn five by December 2nd. The school year of 2013-2014 is the inaugural year of TK at my student teaching site and for my master teacher. We are all learning and going through this together and so far it's been an amazing experience. Today marked the 21st day of school and the students already know several letters, numbers, how to write their name, and are beginning to read. It was only 21 days ago these same students didn't hold any of these skills. They are learning at a rapid pace and are doing an exceptional job at it.
As I began to brainstorm about my Action Research project I knew my priority was to do something that would benefit the students. I spend a lot of time thinking about my own life as a student. Many memories came back that I had pushed down for a long time. The fact is I am not a natural student. School was difficult for me and what came from that was poor habits of rushing through work. I barely got through school and college. Even in college I didn't have any perseverance to push through. It's actually a miracle to me that I sit here today working on a master's degree in education, none the less. One reason was it was about a decade ago becoming a teacher was placed in my heart. As the years passed and I continued working in my former career, teaching always remained present in my heart and mind and told myself if I ever had the chance to go back to school I would. It was a year ago I began my journey back to school after a 14-year absence. As much as this may or may not sound like one of those stories scene on the Oprah Winfrey show me going back to school isn't the key to my life story. It was what happened in my life six years earlier is what brings me here today. At the age of 30 years old, I learned perseverance. I spent the first 30 years of my life rushing through tasks which posed any sort of mental difficulty for me. The reason for that was because I hated the way I felt when things didn't come naturally to me. I felt stupid, worthless, and ashamed of myself. The way I learned perseverance was just as unnatural for me as school but I finally got it. I learned perseverance through running. What came from something I started doing do work off a few pounds became a life lesson for me
We produce our best work when we persevere
Instill in students habits of taking their time, doing their best, sticking with something even when hurts.
My fierce wondering:
How can we increase motivation to encourage student to produce their best work?
Sub questions
How can we encourage student to collaborate with one another to improve each other's work?
What is the impact of having an authentic audience on student motivation and performance?
My name is Kristy Morgan
My student teaching placement is with combination class of 29 Transitional kindergarteners (TK) and kindergartners. TK is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. Children can enter TK at the age of four but in order to qualify must turn five by December 2nd. The school year of 2013-2014 is the inaugural year of TK at my student teaching site and for my master teacher. We are all learning and going through this together and so far it's been an amazing experience. Today marked the 21st day of school and the students already know several letters, numbers, how to write their name, and are beginning to read. It was only 21 days ago these same students didn't hold any of these skills. They are learning at a rapid pace and are doing an exceptional job at it.
As I began to brainstorm about my Action Research project I knew my priority was to do something that would benefit the students. I spend a lot of time thinking about my own life as a student. Many memories came back that I had pushed down for a long time. The fact is I am not a natural student. School was difficult for me and what came from that was poor habits of rushing through work. I barely got through school and college. Even in college I didn't have any perseverance to push through. It's actually a miracle to me that I sit here today working on a master's degree in education, none the less. One reason was it was about a decade ago becoming a teacher was placed in my heart. As the years passed and I continued working in my former career, teaching always remained present in my heart and mind and told myself if I ever had the chance to go back to school I would. It was a year ago I began my journey back to school after a 14-year absence. As much as this may or may not sound like one of those stories scene on the Oprah Winfrey show me going back to school isn't the key to my life story. It was what happened in my life six years earlier is what brings me here today. At the age of 30 years old, I learned perseverance. I spent the first 30 years of my life rushing through tasks which posed any sort of mental difficulty for me. The reason for that was because I hated the way I felt when things didn't come naturally to me. I felt stupid, worthless, and ashamed of myself. The way I learned perseverance was just as unnatural for me as school but I finally got it. I learned perseverance through running. What came from something I started doing do work off a few pounds became a life lesson for me
We produce our best work when we persevere
Instill in students habits of taking their time, doing their best, sticking with something even when hurts.
My fierce wondering:
How can we increase motivation to encourage student to produce their best work?
Sub questions
How can we encourage student to collaborate with one another to improve each other's work?
What is the impact of having an authentic audience on student motivation and performance?