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Observation Logs/Anecdotal Notes
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In a binder, each student had a section for teacher observational notes. Depending on when I was taking notes, I would write on sticky notes throughout the day, if I did not have the binder out. Those sticky notes were placed under the correct student’s name. In this binder I found common themes that multiple students were having when it came to social-emotional and self- regulation skills. I noticed that a theme throughout the whole class was that students would continue to do actions or say the same things that irritated peers even after they asked them to stop. This is what caused a lot of escalation in behaviors noticed in the classroom. I modified lessons to highlighted when someone says stop, you do not continue doing the same action and did activities during social circle to emphasis that. However, my students needed my support than my social circle lessons for that area of social-emotional learning. This was when I sought help from the guidance counselor and discussed how during her time, they could work on those skills.
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In turn, this data collection led to a huge celebration during the end of our six-week period. On the last week of the action plan research, I was absent for a make-up training day. When I returned, I received an outstanding note from the substitute teacher. My class had struggled all year with substitute teachers and had extreme behaviors with them. However, due to working with the guidance counselor and using observational notes to guide instruction, the students received high praise from the substitute teacher. She stated that they were the best sixth grade class she had seen in the district. She said they made her first experience at our school welcoming and delightful. This was a huge milestone for the class and showed how they were growing in these social-emotional and self-regulation skills.
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