What is being implemented? With whom is it being implemented?

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I implemented a variety of sight word strategies in order to see if it had an effect on independent reading levels. These strategies included flashcards, music, technology, games, kinesthetic activities, word wall activities, workstations, and bellwork. This project was implemented with my Kindergarten classroom that consists of 20 students.

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When will it be implemented?

 

The implementation was seven weeks long. It started the week of January 30th and end on March 31st. Each week I introduced a new sight word strategy or activity. There was whole group, small group, and independent work throughout the seven weeks.

 

How will it be implemented?

 

Each week I introduced a strategy as a whole group. I then incorporated these strategies into small group work and independent work time during work stations. This was my plan for the release of responsibility, or scaffolding. During whole group I taught the sight words using music and/or rhythm. I introduced sight word games as a whole group and played the game so that my students knew how to play the game independently during work stations. I also played games like sight word BINGO, hangman, Guess that word, and other word wall activities as well.  

 

Each week during small group time I alternated between flashcards and whiteboards. The flashcards helped each student practice reading the sight words. I used the whiteboards in a variety of ways. I had students practice writing the sight words, as well as play games using the whiteboards. A couple of games included the eraser game and hangman. Some weeks I also incorporated pyramid spelling, sight word games, spelling the sight words using magnets and cookie sheets.

 

During independent work time, or work stations, I had them do word work activities that involved the word wall, write the room, roll and write, rainbow write, decorate the word, and pyramid spelling. They also were able to play the sight word games that were introduced as a whole group. I allowed them opportunities for kinesthetic tracing activities and time with the iPad. I allowed students to use sight word apps such as Spelling City to reinforce the exposure to the words.

 

Some days I also had parent volunteers or Watch DOGs, which are dads who volunteer in the building. When I had these volunteers in the classroom I had them pull groups to play the sight word games that I had introduced. I also had some sight word bellwork activities that I had my students do in the morning.

 

Why have the strategy/strategies been selected for implementation?

 

I selected a wide range of sight word strategies for implementation in my classroom. The literature review and research helped me decide on what types of strategies to implement. The strategies I found were flashcards, games, kinesthetic activities, word wall activities, music, and technology. Therefore, I had several opportunities for my students to practice their sight words. During my research, I found that these strategies should have a positive effect on independent reading levels. I chose the strategies because I thought that the activities would interest my students and would motivate them to learn their sight words in order to help them read. These sight word strategies have helped my students read and write the sight words, which has helped them when they are reading and improve their fluency as well. I also wanted to choose a variety of strategies to meet the needs of all my students and the different learners.

 

What data collection methods will be used and why?

 

The data collection methods that I used are qualitative, quantitative, and examining. I collected data on multiple things. My quantitative data consisted of a sight words assessment, a pre/post interest survey, and text leveling. My qualitative data was the pre and post survey. The examining consisted of artifacts, which was photos. I text leveled at the end of my timeline, which gave me my final piece of data. I assessed sight words in the middle and at the end of the timeline. I chose these data collection methods because I knew it would help me determine if sight word strategies helped improve independent reading levels. My research told me that working with sight words through the use of multiple strategies would help students with their reading and reading fluency. Text leveling is a district assessment and told me where my students are at with their reading. The survey helped me see the improvement in confidence that my students had. The sight word assessment was also a district assessment for Kindergarten and helps me analyze whether the student can identify sight words. Another form of keeping the data from the sight word assessment was by having the students graph their own progress. It was an easy way for me to look at the data and it was extremely motivated for my students as well. They absolutely loved being able to fill in their graph after I assessed them to see that immediate feedback and how much they have grown. That method was used to motivate my students throughout the learning process and for them to see how far they have come.