Michelle's+Page

= = = = =** Click on the Powerpoint button to the left to attend my **= =** "workshop" on Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles .**=

== Wow Michelle! It looks like you have really learned alot in this powerpoint. I loved the youtube videos. The survey was fun to take! I guess there was nothing new to me, because I remember having to take these surveys back in college. Off the top of my head, I remember reading alot about this is college and I also remember having to make up many lessons that show the different multiple intelligences. I would always gravitate towards the bodily/kinestic activities. I was always more hands on. If I could physically make something instead of write a paper, I would have totally taken that option. I do however, think about how difficult it is to make up rubrics for each activity to support each child, but on the other hand, I think of your story about the boy who shined in conversing and then it just makes so much sense to me. ==

**Action Research Project**

 * Question:** **How does instructing to preferred learning styles affect student motivation and academic performance?**

** -Do students, once they are aware of their preferred learning style(s), choose project that ** ** reflect this? ** ** -Does students’ personal-investment in their learning improve? ** ** -How is students’ work-stamina affected? ** ** -How is lesson-engagement affected? ** ** -Does esteem improve? ** ** -Do fifth graders preferred learning styles change over time? ** ** -How do kids, at the end of a project, feel about it? Is that different than in past years? ** ** -Does this approach reach those “unreachable” students better than other ways I’ve tried? ** ** -What can I apply from Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences to my classroom? ** ** -Does celebrating/acknowledging learning differences affect classroom climate? Participation? ** ** -Does long-term concept retention increase when learning styles are celebrated/used? **
 * Description of Action Research Project:**

Researcher’s Name: **Michelle Sindic**

Action Research Question: **How does teaching to a student’s preferred learning style affect student motivation and academic performance?**

**WHY ** are you collecting this data? **To learn how my students learn best; to become a better teacher for each student that enters my classroom; to empower students; because I’ve always been interested in learning more about Multiple Intelligences** · What are you hoping to learn from the data**? I want to learn how each of my students learns best, and use this information to guide project ideas and/or to instruct to multiple styles.** · Is there a match between what you hope to learn and the data collection methods you chose? **yes** **WHAT ** exactly are you collecting? · What are the data sources you plan to use to best learn about your topic? (Use the list you generated from your last AR data collection journal worksheet**) Personal journaling** **Modified gradebook ** **Artifacts ** **Rubrics ** **Preferred learning style surveys ** **Student reflections ** **Video/Pictures ** · How much data do you need to really learn about this topic? I don’t know at this point**… I feel like I’d like to see a few months worth, at least, covering several subject areas?? I really need to start reading about the topic first before I completely formulate how I want to start things in the fall.** **WHERE **will you collect the data? Are there any limitations to collecting the data? · What support systems need to be in place to allow for the data collection to occur? **Organized chart of some sort (modified gradebook) with student** **names ** **Bin to collect student work ** **Surveys, etc. ready to go ** · Are there ways to build data collection into the normal activities of the classroom? **Yes: student reflection, surveys occasionally, self-assessment rubrics, target/norm setting at the beginning of a project, reflection throughout** **WHEN ** are you going to collect the data and for how long? **Sept-May** · How can you build into the plan collecting data at more than one point in time? **If you look at the ways I will be collecting data, they are spread out over time. By the nature of things, I need to collect work samples, surveys, etc. at the beginning of the school year, and then the year naturally progresses through projects, new learnings, etc. I feel like I’m still formulating a plan.** · Are there strategies you can use to easily observe and record data during class/teaching? **Learning styles= student survey and student observation** **Learning done using preferred learning style(s)= ** **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">observation, rubrics, post-it notes, student reflection ** · Can you afford the time to gather and record data using the strategies you have selected? **Yes, some will be on my own time, some will be with students. They need to assess who // they // are as learners. I want to see how this empowers them and affects motivation as a result of being able to build on their strengths.** **<span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">WHO ** is going to collect the data? **Me and my students (at times)** Are there data which can be generated by the students? **yes** · Is there a colleague/aide who can observe in your classroom or who can assist with data collection? **Yes, several** · What can you do yourself without it being too overwhelming**? Journal, review students’ work and surveys, record in-the-moment occurences** **<span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">HOW ** will data be collected and displayed? · How will you collect and display the qualitative data? **Journal entries, notes,** · The quantitative data? **Perhaps a sociogram, or a visual chart of some sort. Again, I’m formulating this as I go… I need to read and get ideas first. I am definitely a visual sort of person, and like color when I organize data, so I am positive that I will be using a very visual presentation method.** · What plan do you have at this point for analyzing and learning from the data? **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Good question. Because I just switched my research focus, I am feeling like I’m a step behind with these questions! I definitely want to use the data to guide my teaching and projects that I offer, as well as to empower my students to be life-long learners. **  · To whom will you present what you have learned? **My fifth grade teammates; Research Roundtable audience** __<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 180%;">Michelle’s Page __

**__Fifth Grade Teacher__**

__﻿Educati﻿on:__

*National Louis University, currently working on Master's in Curriculum and Instruction

*UW-Whitewater, BSE



__Professional Experiences:__

*Oconomowoc School District 2005-present

*University Lake School 2002-2004

*New Berlin School District 1994-2001

*Kettle Moraine School District 1993-1994



__Personal Information__:

*Married for 18 years to Jay

*Mother of two boys: Caleb, 15 and Collin, 10

*Pets: Riley and Happy (dogs), Sanibel (cat), hamster, 2 frogs (ALL are males! Oh, the testosterone around my house!); 2 chickens, with more coming in the spring

*Hobbies include reading, flower gardening, swimming, and boating.