INTASC+9A

**a. reflects and evaluates the effect of his/her personal and/or professional choices on others (students, parents, and staff) in the learning community**


 * What is this artifact? **

This artifact is an **action research study** I completed with fellow Towson intern, Sarah Hicks, at Waverly Elementary School in the spring of 2010. The action research study focused on improving number sense. We worked with four, second grade students who were preselected based on their performance on classroom warm-up activities. Our focus question stated "How do multiple methods of presentation affect the development of number sense in second grade students?" With a strong question driving our research, Miss Hicks and I took a **constructivist approach** to instruction and incorporated math manipulatives and hands-on activities into each of our eight sessions. Pre and post-assessments **showed sizeable gains** in overall understanding. On April 26, 2010, Miss Hicks and I presented our findings to a group of 23 educators, including the School Improvement Team, as well as the principal and assistant principal at Waverly Elementary School. This artifact includes the pre and post-assessment, the PowerPoint presentation used on April 26th, pictures from the presentation and action research analysis.


 * Why did you put this artifact in this INTASC principle? **

Completing this action research required **constant reflection**. While working with students, Miss Hicks and I **continued to question** the //success, appropriateness and relevance// of our activities. Using pre and post-assessments allowed us to see the **overall success** of our research program but through **continual reflection we were able to meet the needs of each learner.** After our first meeting, we **reflected** and discovered that the students had a clear understanding of hundreds charts but basic facts were an area of concern. //Without this timely discovery//, Miss Hicks and I could have spent valuable time reviewing hundreds charts, where clearly, the students were not in need. We also **realized** that our time and teaching efforts would help our students more in a //two group model// as opposed to the //co-teaching model// we had originally intended. __**If**__ **reflection was neglected** during this action research, the success of this study would have been compromised, ultimately resulting in a missed opportunity to **meet the** **specific needs** of four students. In addition, the presentation shared with the Waverly Elementary School staff included suggestions for future instructional support. The faculty expressed their appreciation of our efforts and for thinking of innovative strategies to use both in both in the general mathematics classroom and small group instruction.