Quality School Line

August 2003

Vol 1 Issue 2

Start off on the right foot on the first day of school, when your students are eager to begin, by getting everyone in your classroom on your team. A brainstorming session to establish ground rules http://www.pqsystems.com/practicaltools.htm will give your students a sense of ownership in the classroom, and will make your life easier because it will engage them in reflecting on classroom behaviors.

And while you’re at it, you can ask your students to establish expectations for you as their teacher, using silent brainstorming (Crawford slip) and affinity diagrams. Give them sticky notes and ask them to tell you what teacher behaviors interfere with their learning, one idea per note.

Here's an example from a classroom in Dayton, where a high school English teacher created an affinity diagram the first day of school, in this case using DATAjogger to create the chart. After students generated ideas on sticky notes, she asked them to take their notes to the board and group them with classmates' ideas that were similar. This gave them an opportunity to get up out of their seats (good for learning), interact with new classmates, and participate in the "discussion" without raising their hands and waiting to be called on. One student took all the ideas and entered them into the software in the brainstorming tool. Here are their ideas:

hand back papers on time

constructive criticism on writing

no creative writing

lots of creative writing

tell us how things are graded

be clear about why we do something

have a sense of humor

grade papers and get them back fast

don't give tests on Mondays

help with thesis statements

start class on time

have variety in class tasks

take field trips

be consistent with rules

don't call on same people all the time

don't lecture all the time

reading assignments that are short

have small group discussions

make groups stay on task

not too much homework

no homework over long breaks

make homework count

have quizzes on daily reading

more projects, less writing

be sure we know how projects are graded

let us know what our avg grades are

no surprises at end of term

tell how writing is improved

not just negative comments on papers

give chance to revise writing

don't grade first draft of papers

make reading relevant to us

The affinity diagram tool in DATAjogger created the following chart:

After the ideas have been grouped or classified, the class and teacher can consider contradictory items (for example, "lots of creative writing," "no creative writing"), perhaps with a compromise position taken. The teacher can also indicate which items are not negotiable. "No tests," for example, might not be something that the teacher would consider. (Likewise, "no reading," "no writing," "no school." But you will be amazed to find that your students rarely offer these facetious suggestions; they will value the opportunity you've given them for honest input.)

Whether you use DATAjogger or create an affinity chart manually, this is a good way to start the year. Your students will be inspired by your willingness to listen to their input, and you’ll be able to communicate elements of your own style that are important to them.

Want to see how DATAjogger views data related to absenteeism in a variety of tool formats? Visit http://www.datajogger.com for this example.

We put our toe in the water with a pilot version of Quality School Line in May, and now we're swimming out into the deep water, providing monthly tips, examples, and suggestions to classroom teachers and administrators. Watch for classroom projects, downloadable templates, and discounted software for your classroom.
Newsletter Spotlight
Got software? A program that will be the "electronic chalkboard" for your improvement projects is available from PQ Systems. DATAjogger offers easy-to-use templates for the tools you need, as well as a complete walk-through of an application of these tools in an improvement project. DATAjogger is so easy to use that students and teachers alike can start creating diagrams, recording brainstorms, or charting process flow without any preparation. Data created in brainstorming, for example, can be re-used in other diagrams and charts. Download a copy to use for 30 days without charge, at http://www.datajogger.com, then ask about our unbelievable introductory offer.
Tip of Month
Start off on the right foot on the first day of school, when your students are eager to begin, by getting everyone in your classroom on your team. A brainstorming session to establish ground rules http://www.pqsystems.com/practicaltools.htm will give your students a sense of ownership in the classroom, and will make your life easier because it will engage them in reflecting on classroom behaviors. And while you’re at it, you can ask your students to establish expectations for you as their teacher, using silent brainstorming (Crawford slip) and affinity diagrams. Give them sticky notes and ask them to tell you what teacher behaviors interfere with their learning, one idea per note. Here's an example from a classroom in Dayton, where a high school English teacher created an affinity diagram the first day of school, in this case using DATAjogger to create the chart. After students generated ideas on sticky notes, she asked them to take their notes to the board and group them with classmates' ideas that were similar. This gave them an opportunity to get up out of their seats (good for learning), interact with new classmates, and participate in the "discussion" without raising their hands and waiting to be called on. One student took all the ideas and entered them into the software in the brainstorming tool. Here are their ideas: hand back papers on time constructive criticism on writing no creative writing lots of creative writing tell us how things are graded be clear about why we do something be fair have a sense of humor grade papers and get them back fast don't give tests on Mondays help with thesis statements improve writing start class on time have variety in class tasks take field trips be consistent with rules don't call on same people all the time don't lecture all the time reading assignments that are short no pop quizzes have small group discussions make groups stay on task not too much homework no homework over long breaks make homework count have quizzes on daily reading no small groups assign projects more projects, less writing group projects be sure we know how projects are graded let us know what our avg grades are no surprises at end of term tell how writing is improved not just negative comments on papers give chance to revise writing don't grade first draft of papers have fun tell jokes make reading relevant to us *The affinity diagram tool in DATAjogger* created the following chart:** After the ideas have been grouped or classified, the class and teacher can consider contradictory items (for example, "lots of creative writing," "no creative writing"), perhaps with a compromise position taken. The teacher can also indicate which items are not negotiable. "No tests," for example, might not be something that the teacher would consider. (Likewise, "no reading," "no writing," "no school." But you will be amazed to find that your students rarely offer these facetious suggestions; they will value the opportunity you've given them for honest input.) Whether you use DATAjogger or create an affinity chart manually, this is a good way to start the year. Your students will be inspired by your willingness to listen to their input, and you’ll be able to communicate elements of your own style that are important to them. *Want to see how DATAjogger* views data related to absenteeism in a variety of tool formats? Visit http://www.datajogger.com for this example.** Copyright 2003 by PQ Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.