I feel that the most powerful component that has emerged this year is the pure joy I have seen in those going through inquiry this year. They all felt so empowered and enthusiastic about their own inquiries and those of fellow inquirers that the happiness in tackling their own wonderings stood out the most to me this year-more so than in the past.It is fulfilling to see this project "light teachers up."

I know that in the case of the elementary school inquirers, their study has greatly impacted students because they focused on specific students and were trying to improve performance in a specific way-only one student out of about 19 was considered less better off than before the inquiry began. I am sure that as far as the high school participants the students derived some benefit from the teachers enthusiasm and "open stance" not to mention how the findings changed practice for the greater good.

I guess the most important thing I learned was the necessity of a support system while going thru this process of inquiry-inquiry has it's own life cycle in a way and when energy is low or data is OVERWHELMING that support is vital. In other words  we can not minimize the value of the sounding board /coach role in inquiry. I also learned that communication is a necessity as well. If inquiry takes place in isolation with inquirers working through their own wonderings without the time designated to share them aloud then the process and "stance" are weakened and feeble.

Guiding others through this process has been invaluable to me as a person and a teacher.It has allowed me to get to know on a professional basis teachers in my district that I would not get know at all otherwise as we all rush though our various responsibilities every day.Of course listening to them all offered me ideas and led me to "wonderings" (plenty) of my own that could branch off from their research. I have felt a sense of accomplishment both of the years I have served as a coach!

Where do I go from here?

I would love to continue assisting teachers in this process and I feel I have been given the tools to do so but most importantly I have carefully watched a most graceful example of how to lead others in inquiry by watching Nancy Dana lead our group along this road.I would always choose to have her with us still if that is possible because her support has been constant and unwavering! Thank goodness we have her voice within her books!

Have a great summer! 

I will miss you Nancy and Chris and Katie!

 The most powerful component of engaging in the teacher research for the inquirers I coached this year is see the teacher excited about reasearch. I believe that they were so excited because they were in control of their own professional development through the inquiry that was picked by them because of the relevance to their students. I believe that the teacher inquiry has impacted students positively because all of the teachers were able to show growth in their inquiry. I believe that data collection and ananlysis is a key part to the inquiry. I think that teachers often engage in trying new things to improve their students, but rarely do they collect the data needed to see if it really made impact on their students. Also, the opportunity to share and the learn from others was powerful. While at the showcase, I noticed that my teachers chose to go to see presentations that we similiar to theirs or something that they've want to try next year. It is interesting to see them want to learn from others' experiences and use that knowledge in their own classroom. I have throughly enjoyed working with my group of teachers this year. Their passion about improving their students learning is contagious. The communication we had throughout the year was truly valuable; I felt that we had our own teacher community and were able to turn to each other in need. Next year I hope to continue the process and foster more learning communities through teacher inquiry.

I have enjoyed working with everyone this year.

Alissa

 The most powerful component of engaging in the teacher research for the inquirers I coached this year is see the teacher excited about reasearch. I believe that they were so excited because they were in control of their own professional development through the inquiry that was picked by them because of the relevance to their students. I believe that the teacher inquiry has impacted students positively because all of the teachers were able to show growth in their inquiry. I believe that data collection and ananlysis is a key part to the inquiry. I think that teachers often engage in trying new things to improve their students, but rarely do they collect the data needed to see if it really made impact on their students. Also, the opportunity to share and the learn from others was powerful. While at the showcase, I noticed that my teachers chose to go to see presentations that we similiar to theirs or something that they've want to try next year. It is interesting to see them want to learn from others' experiences and use that knowledge in their own classroom. I have throughly enjoyed working with my group of teachers this year. Their passion about improving their students learning is contagious. The communication we had throughout the year was truly valuable; I felt that we had our own teacher community and were able to turn to each other in need. Next year I hope to continue the process and foster more learning communities through teacher inquiry.

I have enjoyed working with everyone this year.

Alissa

Hi All -

I hope you are enjoying the wind-down of the school year. Attached please find the Showcase Feedback -- I've included both the Friday and Saturday session feedback so you have some information that could be helpful for you as you move inquiry on into the future. It is all quite positive, with some great suggestions as well. (Chris will attached when he has a chance as the site won't let me attach any more documents. I'm over my limit).

Also, just wanted to remind everyone that write-ups are due by the end of the month. So far, I've received John's write-ups -- Thanks!

Joan Thate sent me a wonderful email yesterday with the program for the Flagler Showcase to take place this Saturday. Keep Joan and Flagler teachers in your thoughts this Saturday as they share their thinking and practice with one another at their local Showcase. Joan will be a great resource for everyone as she has done a great deal of work in Flagler to promote inquiry within the district itself. Congrats Joan, and THANKS! Let us know how it goes!

Finally, as we wind down the school year and bring closure to another cycle of inquiry, I'm asking each of you PLEASE to post one final reflection to our on-line learning community. This will be a wonderful way to bring closure to our work together. Here are some questions to help you frame your last post, and provide "food for thought" for the future of inquiry as teacher professional development:

1. What has been the most powerful component of engaging in teacher research for the inquirers you coached this year?
2. In what ways have the inquiries that you've witnessed this year and/or in the past impacted students?
3. What are some of the most important lessons you have learned about inquiry and coaching inquiry as we worked together this year?
4. What has your journey of inquiry and coaching inquiry meant to you?
5. Where to you plan to take your journey next and what will you need to do so?

I am looking forward to reading everyone's reflecctions as we end our year's work together. . .My very best to everyone for a wonderful remainder of the school year, restful summer, and continuation of learning and growing as a teacher inquirer!

Nanc

So in one of the other topics, I saw Brandy mention the invoices.  I haven't told my people to put them in yet.....should they?  Could they?  Perhaps Nancy or Brandy could respond.

I'm trying to get an article in our local paper about our participants.  I'm going to try to attach a picture of our group outside the PAC after the closing for you to see.    Well, it's too big.  I'll try again later.

Gayle

All,

What a rush!!!  The 4th (showcase) was spectacular.  All we needed was fireworks to top off a great experience.

 My principal and I got the verbal go-ahead from our district administration to host a district-wide showcase next year(like Flagler did this year).  We are talking about hosting presenters from our district and inviting Dixie and Gilcrest to join us if they want to participate.  I need input from Nanc so we do not interfere with anything planned by CSI/UF next spring.

 Also, do we use write-up instructions from last year or did I miss getting the attachment???

Hi Everyone -

It took me a few days to recover and attend to a few items I had to let slip off my plate as we were preparing for the Showcase, so I'm just getting to the number one new item on my "To Do" list that was added since Saturday -- Posting a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to everyone for a successful event this past Saturday, and a wonderful inquiry year! My only disappointment was not being able to be in more than one place at a time so I could see all of you present! Know that you were all in my thoughts, even if I wasn't able to be present at your session. I know everyone did phenemonal, as did all of the folks you coached!

Working together, we were able to create a very special space for teachers -- a space where they could feel what powerful and meaningful professional development is, and know that their work as teachers deserves and garners the deepest respect from all! Where ever you are able to take this work in the years ahead, know that your work as an inquirer and as a coach has impacted many, many teachers and their students! Thanks go out to each one of you for the tremendous work you do!

Congratulations!

Nanc

We will be sharing some of the ideas we learned during our next faculty meeting. Already we have our teachers implementing some of those ideas today! Thanks everyone for helping prepare your group – you did a magnificent job!

I really enjoyed the Showcase this year. Each year it seems to get better and better, although the first one was fantastic also. Even though my principal did not come (tired) and the county person didn’t show (grandchild sick and had to watch), I was happy that I did see a Columbia Co. group from a school show with their principal (they had no one presenting). I have been trying so hard for three years to promote how wonderful and fulfilling inquiry is with our county people… how it is the best IPDP (individual professional development plan), the deep conversations about student and teacher success, the reflections about one’s own path and methods… I will keep trying to bring these ideas to our county people here.

If any of you have read the book WOW- Adding Pizzazz to Teaching & Learning- You would understand what I mean when I describe Saturday as a WOW.  It was a great day & my participants were so excited about what they learned.  They've had me emailing several of you this morning to see if they can come and visit your schools.  Thanks Brandi for attaching the article & newsclip.  It's great to work with such an awesome group of professionals. 

The Inquiry Showcase was wonderful. Out of 7 teachers from Lafayette,5 of them were first year presenters and they had an awesome experience. Saturday went so smoothly and was inspiring. I again enjoyed attending and being a part of such a wonderful event.

HI folks,

What a fantastic Showcase.  Everything was so well organized and my people were VERY impressed.

I'm starting to get questions about the invoices...can we submit them as soon as we submit our writeups?  It's $200 for the inquirers right?

John

Hi Everyone -

WARNING!! VERY LONG POST WITH LOTS OF INFORMATION.  YOU MIGHT WANT TO PRINT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OUT! 

Eight days to go until the Showcase!  We are busy, busy, busy here at CSI handling all the details - name badges, programs, certificates, pins, handouts, schedules, signs, etc., etc., etc.  It is all coming together slowly but surely and it is clear that with all of your hard work and awesome inquiry facilitation skills, the 2008 Showcase is sure to be the best ever! We have approximately 200 people attending on Friday evening and 350 attending on Saturday!!

Here's some important reminders and details:

1.  Technology.  If your presenters are doing a powerpoint presentation, please remind them that there will be an lcd projector and computer in each room.  They should bring their presentation on a flash drive or burn it on a CD.  Of course, while not necessary, presenters are also welcome to bring their own computers and hook them up to the LCD projector if they feel more comfortable doing so.  Please also remind presenters that it is ALWAYS good practice to be prepared if your technology does not work by printing out a copy of your powerpoint as a handout or just to speak from.  David Young and Jeff Boyer will once again be available to troubleshoot any technology problems, but remember there are 20 presentations happening simultaneously, and they can only be at two places at any one time . . .and an occasional problem can't be fixed.   

2.  Showcase Program.  The program is now posted on the CSI website: http://education.ufl.edu/csi.  Click on the Showcase Button on the menu, and you can download the entire program.  In addition, there is a table that lists presentations by day, topic and grade level.  This "Showcase At A Glance" document can help attendees find sessions they wish to attend.  This document will also be handed out with the program on Saturday morning.  With the great deal of selection and choice, please strongly encourage your inquirers to visit the website and look at the program prior to the morning of the 19th to help plan their day out and not feel overwhelmed by all of the wonderful selections.  

3.  Arrival Time.  We will begin PROMPTLY AT 8:45 in the P.K. Yonge Performing Arts Center.  I would encourage all presenters to arrive between 8:15 and 8:30 so assure parking time, obtain their programs and name-badges, and  "check out their presentation room" prior to the start of Showcase if it will make them feel more comfortable.  

4.   Procedures.  Remind presenters that there will be two presenters in each concurrent session, as well as one or two UF students.  The UF students  will begin the session by each taking 3-4 minutes to share inquiries they have completed during field experience as  a "poster talk."  They will then introduce the first presenter.  Each presenter then has 15 minutes to share his/her work, and five minutes to take questions from those in attendance at the session.  After both presenters, there will be 5 minutes for General Discussion.  The UF students will help each presenter be aware of time by holding up 5 fingers to indicate to the presenter when he/she has 5 minutes left and 1 finger to indicate to the presenter when he/she has 1 minute left.  We will also be handing out a schedule for the timeframe of each session with the Conference Programs when people check in.  

5.  Hand-outs.  Presenter handouts are greatly encouraged!  The feedback from previous showcases indicates that people LOVE to receive handouts.  I anticipate the average audience size will be 15, but there may be some sessions with 3-4 people and some sessions with as many as 25.  Therefore, I'd encourage presenters to bring 15 - 20 copies of a hand-out for their session.  If they run out, email addresses are printed in the program, so audience who did not receive a handout can send the presenter an email request.  If the presenter has extra handouts, he/she can leave them in the presentation room or lay them out at the end of the Showcase in the Performing Arts Lobby for others who couldn't attend the session but are interested in the topic to take.    

6.  The Spirit of the Showcase.  Remind presenters that every session is guaranteed three - four  people in attendance  as there are 2 presenters and 1-2 UF students presenting in each session.  The purpose of the day is to celebrate, share, and have the opportunity to discuss educational practice with other professionals.  Both smaller, intimate sessions of 3-4 people and larger sessions of 10 - 15 are equally valuable for celebrating, sharing and discussing!  In fact, sometimes smaller sessions can be the most valuable as some fantastic discussion ensues when a small number of educators, passionate about a similar topic, gather together to discuss their work.  I want everyone to feel GREAT about their accomplishments regardless of the size of the audience at their session.

7.  Closing Ceremony - Pin and Certificated Distribution.  As the closing session of the program, all presenters will be receiving pins and certificates.  First year presenters will receive the Circle of Children pin.  Second, third, and fourth year presenters will receive a different pin.  To facilitate their distribution, I am going to have the appropriate number of pins and the correct certificates in envelopes for each of you for the teachers that you have worked with this year.  Please see Susan Stabel on the 19th immediately prior to the Closing Ceremony to pick up your envelope containing certificates and pins for your teacher inquirers.  

I think that about does it (for now anyway)!  The 18th - 19th of April is sure to be a POWERFUL learning experience for educators throughout our state and each one of us!!  Can't wait to see everyone on the 19th!

Happy Inquiring!

Nanc 

Hey to everyone!  I hate to disappoint all of you, but I think Union counties presentations are the BEST!  We did a practice run yesterday & WOW- My participants did a great job.  I love how everything always seems to come together at the end even when you have doubts.

I can't wait to see everyone next week.  I'm off to enjoy Spring Break starting tomorrow.  I'll see you next Saturday!!!!

Like everyone else, we will be doing a practice run on Wednesday of this week.  We will be on Spring Break the week before the showcase.  Therefore, we wanted one last time to get together & work out any kinks in our presentations.  I have a couple that are extremely nervous - which surprises me since they both have an outgoing personalities.  One of my teachers misunderstood about the 20 minutes presentation & thought she was talking the entire 50 minutes.  It was comforting when I shared that she would only speak for 15 & take questions.   That in itself should help her nervousness.  I'm glad we communicated early & got this straight.  I looking forward to next Saturday.  It's just so hard to limit the sessions to a couple of choices.  So many of them look very interesting.  I'll see everyone next week.  Time is running out quickly!!!!!!!!!!!!

My teachers and I took our substitute day recently to work on our inquiry project. We were able to meet together in our conference room and continue to discuss directions we needed to go for our presentations. We were able to have our mobile cart with lap tops so that those who were working on a Power Point could do that with their time. Everyone in my group is feeling confident about their presentation and is getting geared up for the showcase. Also, they shared their excitement about getting to see some of the other presetation that they read about in the showcase maual. 

Hi Everyone - OK, the Showcase Countdown is officially beginning . . . 16 DAYS! As we enter the final stages of preparation and planning here at CSI, we are greatly anticipating this exciting event!

A couple items of note. Attached please find a revised schedule/handout that was giving to the UF students who will be poster presenters. Recall that most presentations will now have two poster presenters as they did in the past. I've added five minutes to each session to allow for the second presenter. They are looking forward to meeting and seeing real teacher inquirers in action and participating in our Showcase event. You might want to share this handout with your presenters so they know how the poster presenters in their sessions have been prepared.

Next, as you meet for the final time with your presenters, you will want to review the write-up instructions (also attached). The monograph from last year is now completed and looks fantastic! Due to budget cuts, we will not be printing and handing out hard copies at the Showcase this year. Rather, the monograph will be posted on the NEFEC website so participants can go view it electronically. Brandy will be printing covers with the website address to hand out at the Showcase so everyone will have access to it. I'm having a few hard copies printed here at the Center to have on display at the Showcase itself.

That's about all the news for now. I still owe everyone a blog about our experiences presenting at the International Conference on Teacher Research. I'll try to get to it as soon as there's a little break in Showcase preparation (which might not be until after the Showcase itself, but I'll try to get to it sooner!)

Can everyone post something about how you and your inquirers are doing and how your feel about the upcoming Showcase? Thanks!

Best to All!

Nanc

PS - Chris will add the attachments as soon as he can - I am at a limit for posting attachments and can't do it from my computer.

When looking at the Showcase Program, I noticed that one of the abstracts had National Board Certified Teacher, grade, school, and email.  Should we have our teachers list that as well?  I thought we were only supposed to list name, grade, school, and email.  I think if one has this, they all should list accomplishments.  What do you think?

Hi Fabulous Inquiry Facilitators –

Well, a draft of the program is done and ready to go, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever! It’s such a thrill to read all of the abstracts and titles – you can’t help but get excited about all of the incredible learning that’s occurred this year from inquiry, and the wonderful sharing of it all at the Showcase!

Please look in the program and make sure that all of your inquirers are listed, and their information is correct (name spelled correctly, etc.). Saturday presentations begin on page 18. If you see a typo or someone is missing, please send the correction to Patricia Fleming at pgfleming@coe.ufl.edu. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!! DO NOT SEND CORRECTIONS TO ME!! Recall that I will be in New York all of next week for the American Educational Research Association (presenting my inquiry on administrator action research) and International Conference on Teacher Research (presenting our work on action research and Professional Learning Communities with Mickey and Diane). Therefore, Patricia Fleming, a program coordinator here at UF, will be making any corrections and getting the program to the printer.

DEADLINE FOR CORRECTIONS TO PATRICIA IS TUESDAY, MARCH 24!! She’ll compile any corrections and make them with Susan Stabel, and then send the program to print on or before 3/28. We need to give the printer 10 business days to put the program together, and we want to be sure we have it back in time for the Showcase!

Once the program is 100% done, we’ll post it on the CSI website so your inquirers can look at it before they come on Saturday. I am also asking that if any of your presenters are also going to attend the Friday evening portion to let me know so I can have an accurate headcount for the Friday reception.

One other note – In many presentations, we had to put two pre-interns instead of one. I added 5 minutes to these sessions and I will redo the original schedule and get it to you within the next week or so. I’ll try and complete it before I leave, but I might not be able to get to it.

Also, we did our very best to put two presentations together that shared a topic or a grade level (elementary or secondary) or had some kind of link. Sometimes, we found good matches, but sometimes the matches were a stretch. We did the best we could to match, but I know that even if the topics aren’t exactly matched up, folks will enjoy and learn in ways they wouldn’t necessarily learn if everything was perfectly aligned! We did our best!

Hope you are all doing well and recovered from FCAT!! Can hardly wait for the Showcase!

Happy Inquiring To All!
Nanc

PS – Chris will attach the Showcase Program, as I’m to the limit on what I can post to the site. We just met and he’ll attach the program as soon as he can!

Here are Lafayette County's titles and abstracts.I am getting excited just reading the other presenters' abstracts. There are such great titles and topics.

Alissa

I'm attaching my abstracts.  It's exciting to read all those that have come in.  The showcase is going to be great.

Attached you will find the abstracts for Union County. 

Here are the Columbia Co. Inquiry abstracts.  I can't wait until April!

Hi Everyone - Debbi inquired about technology for the Showcase, and I thought I'd post an announcement so everyone would know what to expect.

Each presentation room will be equiped with a projector and a laptop.  The laptops will be PCs.  I am told that even if presenters created their powerpoints on a mac, it should work fine on the PCs at PK Yonge. Otherwise, folks are welcome to bring their own laptop and cable adaptor for the projectors.

As a presenter, I always am prepared to talk even if my powerpoints aren't working (and it actually happened to me once for a keynote!).  I usually bring a handout and speak from that if the powerpoint isn't working.  You might share with your inquirers that it's always a good idea to be prepared for technology that doesn't work, just in case there's a glitch.  As last year, we'll have at least one technology person circulating and helping (David Young) and I'm trying to get a second person (Jeff Boyer) to help as well.

Hope this information will be helpful to you all!  

 Nanc

Attached, please find Levy district abstracts.

My group posed quite a few technical questions today, and I could answer all of them except this one.  I thought I’d post it in case anyone else wanted to hear what Chris or someone replies with.

Will the computer in the room at P K Yonge be a Mac or PC?  They said it might make a difference if they had a Quicktime movie within their PowerPoint.  I know there are different versions of PowerPoint with different backgrounds available, but did not know about movies. 

Hello to everyone!I have completed my data analysis meetings with my 6 participants.  All of them went well and many great ideas were generated for others.  One of my participants is having a little trouble finding research for her inquiry.  She has been exploring ways to motivate students to put forth more effort on FCAT Performance tasks (short & extended response).  If you have come across anything-please send it my way to share with her.  Another of my teachers is stressing over the feeling that she hasn't accomplished much with her inquiry.  She has been developing ways to provide support to new teachers.  She has many great ideas that will not be put into effect until next year.  Does anyone have any ideas to make her feel better about her inquiry?  She really has done a lot, and I've shared with her that inquiry goes on and on and often is not completed in one year.  I'm not sure I have convinced her though.       I've asked my inquirers to have their titles to me by Thursday of this week just to give a little cushion.  I'm with Nancy- I can't wait to see the creative titles.  I'm struggling with my own title.  My inquiry is based on the effectiveness of professional relationships-Any ideas??????? I like the catchy ones.   

     I've asked my inquirers to have their titles to me by Thursday or this week just to give a little cushion.  I'm with Nancy- I can't wait to see the creative titles.  I'm struggling with my own title .  My inquiry is based on the effectiveness of professional relationships-Any ideas??????? I like the catchy ones.   

Hi Everyone -

Just a reminder that titles/abstracts are due one week from today (March 17, 2008). Of course, it's OK to send them earlier as well. I think it might be good to email me directly with the abstracts (ndana@coe.ufl.edu), as well as post them here in our on-line community. This way, we have a back-up check.

I'm so excited to see everyone's abstracts/titles for this year . . . I feel like a kid right before Christmas morning! It's ALWAYS so incredibly exciting to see teacher learning unfolding in the Showcase!

Have a great week everyone!

Nanc

I know most of you don't have time to read the tnpinational daily blogs, and I almost trashed this one as well, but you have to give this 3 minutes.  It is a link to a video that has a song about testing.  We need to all remember the words that are repeated, "You are better than the test..."

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=9sQ30UyNjtg& feature=email

Happy March!

I am just touching base with everyone. Inquiries here in Lafayette County are on schedule. We had our data analysis meeting last week. Everyone is excited as their data shows solid proof of improvement with the interventions they have been doing with their students.

We have completed data analysis for most of our group. I still
have two in Bronson, one in Chiefland and my own (with my principal). I did have an individual and a team redesign
their inquiries from their original ideas as their data led them to some
amazing discoveries. We are looking forward
to two mini-showcases in-district during the week of the showcase.

I have asked my group to get their abstract in a week early. (We are playing catch up to Tracy and Putman's group

A side note: Our
district retro raises and new stipends were in today's check. I'm goin' shoppin'!!! Have a great week prior to FCAT!!!

Hi All -

As you hold your data analysis meetings in the coming weeks and prepare for your final showcase meeting, I thought it would be helpful to have a Showcase Schedule for Saturday as well as a copy of the directions that the UF students were given when I spoke to them over the last couple weeks (they are very excited about participating!). You may want to copy these documents for your teachers so they have a good idea on how the Showcase will run as well as the roll the UF students will play in each session. I will ask Chris to attach these documents as my "attacher" still doesn't seem to want to work.

ALSO -- IMPORTANT REMINDER -- ALL ABSTRACTS AND TITLES MUST BE TO ME NO LATER THAN MONDAY, MARCH 17TH!! We need to work round the clock this year to put the program together in a week's time to have it to print before I leave to present at the American Educational Research Association and International Council on Teacher Research in New York City on March 24th.

My plan is to literally work around the clock and use Tuesday (3/18) to slot all the presentations, Wednesday to enter them in the computer (3/19), and I hope to send a draft of the program to you on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning for you to check that all of your presenters are listed appropriately. I will need any changes back from you by Friday morning (3/21), so this is a heads up that there will be a quick turn around time on proofing the program this year.

I presented this past week at the Association of Teacher Educator's conference in New Orleans on the process of action research and it went great! There are so many people excited about this work throughout the nation! We continue to be on the cutting edge!

Remember to share with us how your data analysis meetings are going!

Happy Almost Friday! and Happy Inquiring!

Nanc

Nanc sent us all a letter to give to our principals regarding the showcase in April. NEFEC still has not posted the event so that people can register yet. I’m afraid that they will forget to do it if it isn’t posted soon. Either Brandy or Nanc - any idea of when NEFEC will post it so I can pass this along?

Hello everyone!

I hope all of you had a great day off today.  I'm planning my first of two data analysis meetings on Wed of this week.  Three of my teachers will present this week and the other three the following Wed.  We've invited some other people to join in our meetings (principals, district office) to add to our discussions.  My group is kind of quiet this year, so I asked their permission to invite some others to add ideas to our discussions.  I had success with including the principals last year, so I decided to continue.  I'll report back about out meetings after Wednesday.  Have a Great Week!!!!!!!!!

Brandy, Is Debra Foreman on the list? That is Putnam

I don’t if anyone ever has the time to read any of the TNLI posts, but the last one gave a website (below) to access pre-made Letters to the Editor for whatever purpose you may have.  I like this idea and wonder if anyone wants to think about using these to “educate” the readers of newspapers.  

Maybe even use these to write the Congressmen who are involved with these changes.  I am so busy these days with the textbook adoption, testing (DIBELS, ThinkLink, STAR...), etc., but I don’t think things will get better just doing the same ol’ thing everyday.  Anyone else have comments/ideas?

http://teachersnetwork.org/tnli/tnli_speakout.htm

Hi all! I wonder if I will survive! We are neck deep in FCAT practice here in Baker County. I am feeling overwhelmed. I am looking at my data, with an eyeball on the abstract due date. :) I plan to meet with my co-inquirer Kathy to go through the protocol. It should be a great meeting!

later,

Sherri

Jack asked that I post the abstract writing instructions . . . I have emailed it to Chris and he will attach it as soon as he can, as my computer right now is not allowing me to attach it.

Remember the new ground rule of posting something every two weeks . . . it's been about two weeks since we last met, so it's about time for you to all to post something.

A couple prompts if you'd like to use one or both (but don't feel you need to respond to these if you have something else you'd like to post on or reply to one of your colleague's postings) . . .

* What are some things you are thinking about as you prepare for your data analysis meeting?

* What have you learned about coaching data analysis from reading chapter 5 of The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development?

Happy February!

Nanc

Hello Fellow Bloggers,

 It was nice to run into some of you at the NEFEC textbook expo yesterday! 

I am off to 3 individual meetings this afternoon after school at our elementary school. All is going well -seems to be picking up speed as far as inquirers eager to share findings .My own inquiry is moving along and offering insights that lead to .......MORE wonderings!Thanks for attachments!

Nanc,

Can you post the format for the abstract as an attachment so we can forward them on to our inquirers???

Jack

Hi All -

As you requested, I have drafted a letter from me that you can share with the principals in your districts about attending the Showcase, and providing comp time for teachers who might wish to attend as well. You requested I draft this letter at our last meeting.

I am going to ask Chris to post it as an attachment when he gets a chance, because since it is printed on letterhead, the file is too large for me to post here, so be on the look-out for it. Once it's posted, please let me know if you'd like any changes.

Hope you're all having a great week! Happy Wednesday!

Nanc

Hi Everyone -

 Just a couple important announcements to follow up on our great meeting last week --

 1.  Remember to read Chapter 5 of The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development.  This is a GREAT resource for preparing for and planning your data analysis meetings that will be coming up soon.  I think you'll enjoy the "scrap booking" metaphor that opens the chapter, and this analogy for data analysis can help you help your inquirers think about what data analysis is all about!  Also, remind your inquirers to read Chapter 5 of their book, The Reflective Educator's Guide to Classroom Research. This chapter will take them through the process of data analysis step-by-step.  

2.  As your inquirers continue on with their work, remember the importance of literature as data (pp. 81 in The Reflective Educator's Guide to Classroom Research).  As last year, CSI will utilize the UF Library and do literature searches for each one of your inquirers to help support them in figuring out which pieces of literature connect to their wonderings and will give them insights as their study is unfolding.  We'll search for you and forward to you the top few resources we find.  We've done this already for a number of facilitators.  If you haven't yet submitted your list of inquirers and their topics/wonderings to Katie Tricarico and would like to take advantage of this service, please do so as soon as possible.  We have more inquirers than ever this year, and each search takes approximately one - two hours!  Katie's email address is:  k_tricarico@hotmail.com.

3.  At our last meeting, Jack asked me to post a resource on questions you might want to ask during data analysis . . . I think he might have been thinking about the probing questions figure that actually was created to help coaches probe during wondering development, but I've attached it here in case you think it might help with the data analysis meeting.  

 Sometime this week I will work on the letter to your administrators announcing the Showcase and suggesting they provide comp time for teachers to attend.  Have a great week everyone!  

 -Nanc

Hi everyone!  I enjoyed getting together on Tuesday.  As several of you have already mentioned, it also helped me refocus & get excited about the second half of inquiry.  I have individual meetings scheduled for next week with each of my teachers.  Last year, I found the individual meetings to be time well spent.  It seems to help the teachers see that they are on the right track.

Nancy, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing the 4 A's protocol.  I have adapted the handout to use in team meetings next week for our book study discussion.  It was  the "perfect" idea I needed.  That's another plus for us getting together, I always leave with something I can take back & use with my teachers. 

One question-Could we post Katie's email again so we can get in touch with her for research?  Thanks!  Talk to everyone soon!

Here is an invoice that will work for you and your teachers. We will match the amount to your LOAs, so use them as  your guide for amount and date of billing.

Facilitators: You will bill for $250.00 by January 31st.

Teachers: They will bill for $200.00 according to the date listed in their LOA.

Hi folks,

now that we have our letters of agreement, do we have a special invoice for our use as facilitators or do we use the same one as we used for our inquirers?

The first date for us to have the invoice is coming up soon (the 31st) so I was just wondering....

John 

Otuzco.....my latest dream....

Hi Everyone -

SO WONDERFUL TO SEE EVERYONE
YESTERDAY!  While a large portion of our meeting was devoted to taking
care of a lot of business, we got an incredible amount accomplished, including:

• Discussing
  our role in Teachers Network Leadership Institute and planning a
  post-Showcase organizational meeting for any NEFEC teachers interested in
  working with this organization next year

• Planning
  the 4th annual Showcase, fine-tuning the schedule, and discussing ways to
  get more people involved other than presenters (Within a week, I’ll draft
  a letter to administrators suggesting comp time be provided as an
  incentive for teachers who aren’t presenting to attend and post it for
  your use)

• Revisiting
  our on-line community (with Chris' Help) and revitalizing this important
  mechanism to keep us connected to each other, and maximize the individual
  and collective learning that we are all engaged in about both teacher
  research and coaching teacher research  (Remember our new ground rule:  Each member of the community will
  post at least once every two weeks as a reminder to us all that our
  on-line community is alive and vibrant)

• Reviewing
  the data analysis protocol and planning for this local meeting

• Sharing
  the ways support for Inquiry is being shifted from NEFEC/CSI to districts,
  and identifying issues that are important to address as plans for this
  work continues

I will be working on a number
of things on my end to keep all of our ideas and planning moving forward as you
meet and work with your teacher inquirers over the coming months on data
analysis and Showcase preparation . . . I’ll keep you abreast of updates and
developments, as well as send our reminders as we approach critical dates (Like
Titles/Abstract Due On or Before March 17!)

During our small group work
yesterday around the data analysis protocol, in my group I shared a little bit
about a consultant I had gone to see that helped teachers teach test- taking
skills.  With FCAT season upon us,
Rhonda and John were both interested in what I learned, and asked that I share
it with them . . . As I was preparing to send them an email, I thought some of
you might be interested as well, so thought I’d fold it into our on-line
learning community.  So here goes .
. .

The gentleman I saw present
believes our bottom quartile students perform poorly on the FCAT because they
are not familiar with 12 common words that often appear on standardized test.
 Oftentimes, these learners might know the content to be able to answer
the question, but don’t know what the question is asking them.  The 12
common words that are frequently found on standardized test, as well as how
they can be explained to kids are:

Trace – List in steps

Analyze – Break apart

Infer – Read between
the lines

Evaluate – Judge

Formulate – Create

Describe – Tell all
about

Support –Back up with
details

Explain – Tell How

Summarize – Give me
the short version

Compare – All the ways
they are alike

Contrast – All the
ways they are different

Predict – What will
happen next

His premise is that we can improve kids test scores if we
“teach” these words and use them every day of the school year with our
students.

I share this with our community for whatever it’s worth to
you . . . I think in this era of high-stakes testing and accountability, it’s
important and necessary for us to devote some time to the teaching of
test-taking skills.  Sometimes I am
saddened, however, when the intense pressure the permeates our schools today
leads us to focus more on test-taking skills and test performance than on good,
sound, teaching and learning practice. 
In the spirit of inquiry, I wonder how we, as educators, can balance
preparation for tests and the teaching of test-taking skills with continued
meaningful teaching and learning. 
I know there is no answer to this constant tension we all feel each and
every day, but perhaps through engagement in inquiry, we can learn to navigate
that tension in the best possible ways . . .

Ahhh . . . Another inquiry for another day!

Have a great rest of your week! 

Best!

Nanc

I have to admit that at first yesterday morning I was feeling overwhelmed. As a first year teacher inquiry facilitator I am still having concerns about my little corner of the world and here I find myself sitting with a group of teachers trying to develop a way to change the way in which policies are made. Then I felt honored to be a part of such a group and I aspire to be an asset to this goal.  I truly believe that teacher inquiry is a worthy process that can change the way teachers and schools make their decisions about best practices.

The data analysis protocol was very powerful to me. I wish that I was able to have experienced it in person. The scenario is very helpful though.  I am looking forward to trying this procedure with my group.

Hi Folks,

I'm really glad we were able to meet yesterday, it really brought me back into the Inquiry mode of thinking.  I spoke to my National Board people and they are terribly excited about being able to present on the Friday Showcase for mentoring hours.  I really think they are a fabulous resource for us to use.  Maybe someone should do an inquiry on how many different ways we can use these folks! :)

Hey to everyone!  I'm looking forward to our meeting next week because I feel out of touch with you guys.  My inquiry group is going okay, but a little slower than last year. It's been hard to connect my group this year.  Maybe it's just different personalities-I'm not sure.  I'm setting up individual meetings with each of my teachers over the next two weeks.  I'll see you Tuesday!

OH yeah- my daughter turns 16 tomorrow, so I'm a little out of sorts over that!!!!! SCARY

Rhonda 

I am relieved by Nanc's email that NEFEC will be represented at our meeting.  The lack of completion on our administrivia has driven me to distraction. 

I am hearing good stuff, not stressful stuff from my inquirers.  I think having support from others (District/School Administrators, NBCTs and past Inquirers) is making a big difference.  I also believe that teachers are evolving into natural inquirers as we dive into data processing and expectation-driven instruction.  Schools implementing the Continuous Improvement Model (Lake Butler was our model to emulate) tend to be favorable grounds for developing inquiry projects.

I am also interested in hearing more about the national fellowship and how we might gain influence into decision making on a small-to-large scale (school-district-state-national-global).

See ya' next week!