Action Research Project

I am applying another technique today in my 3rd grade recorder class. The kids have been really receptive and have actually enjoyed working on the different techniques I outlined in my project. After next week I will be done with this part of my project and will move on to see what kind of data I have. I have been working on my abstratct and other materials for my action research project and have gotten a lot done. I was going to try to also video tape my class today, but lo and behold my recorder is dead. I have been doing a lot of work on my blog though. I linked numerous websites that I use for my classes. I am now trying to figure out how to link a word document, if that can be done. I have several rubrics, etc. that I feel would satisfy the requirment for the portfolio side of the blog, but have yet been able to figure out how to conceptually go about it on this website. I also wanted to upload some sound bytes, so I will be trying to work on that when I have time during my day. On another note, I had a small success yesterday with my problem school. I had talked earlier about having a hard time with one of my schools...the kids not bringing their instruments. I ended up calling the girls mother, she got in major trouble for skipping my class, and then was told that she would not be going on the skating trip on Friday. I guess that finally got through to her because she brought her trombone the very next day. It is almost exhausting trying to keep up with these kids and their books/instruments. I then ended up having a conference with another teacher about a student I have in fourth grade who feels as though he is an adult also. Every time I speak to someone in the class, he has a comment. You know the type. His homeroom teacher and I discussed the fact that he does the very same thing in her class as well. We both had a conversation with him and he ended up writing me an apology letter, signed by his mother no less. With both my 5th and 4th grade classes, I started noticing that they seemed a little restless. When I stopped to think about it, I realized that maybe they were just bored with where they were sitting. I have tried several different seating configurations, but I have finally hit on something that seems productive for me and the class. Instead of having them face the board in sectional lines, I now have them facing each other in two straight lines. It seems simple, but for some reason it was just enough of a change to make a difference. This led me to think of Pink's design. He talked about how design is becoming more of a purposeful thought. The design of hsopitals, lobbys, etc. being used to create a better atmosphere. After I had changed the set up I reflected and found that he was right. The design of my classroom has as much to do with the atmosphere of the class as anything else. If the kids do not feel "at home" in my class, chances are there will be more problems. Lets hope everything keeps going smoothly!