So it's the end of quarter one...

And what have we learned?
That's a two-headed question with some sharp teeth. I've learned some but not all of what I'm after. My students have also learned some but not all of what I want them to know. Worst of all, I don't know as much about what I want them to learn as I thought I would at this point. Because I didn't figure out how to tag data well until recently (if then) in Examview and because I'm not getting very sophisticated reports from Examview, I can't really say with certainty after 6 weeks which parts of speech are giving students the most trouble and what exact components of those parts of speech need review. I mean, I have good enough data to see that students struggle with verbs, prepositions, pronouns, and adverbs more than nouns, adjectives, conjunctions, and interjections. But are the intensive pronouns harder than demonstrative... Well, I don't know that. Vocabulary, too, was a disappointment. This time because I gave paper tests and scanned them (I GOT MY SCANNER TODAY) but there were three different versions of the test and only one scanned. Unless I want to build the whole tests over (but not random this time) I can't collect the data. Soooo, I don't know positively what words and activities were easiest and hardest.

I need to go back and look at methods used to review for the tests. This time, I used CPS with period 2 for the grammar and vocab tests, Quizshow solo with period 7, and Quizshow Group with period 10. The scores were better for period 2 than the other 2 classes. However, the grades are always better for period 2. So, next time, period 2 gets Quizshow Group, etc. Stay tuned.

I got my scanner. Now what? Besides scanning quizzes when I'm absent (and showing others how to scan them), I want to scan copies of every old handout that I need for class and of every useful page in their books. Forget my.hrw.com if I can .pdf the story!

Well, back to work. Blood drive and grading make-up papers and hand-scoring those tests (grr.). I guess I'll talk to me later.

PS - why oh why did I assign paragraphs at the end of the quarter??? What a dumb move that was. I'm caught up on grading and could just plan my way into next quarter but instead I'm gonna fall behind on grading paragraphs. dumb move (but I've got to make them write at least twice a quarter!).