Ask your child about the research study we will conduct with researchers from the University of Michigan. The letter is below in the Documents section of the blog. Please sign the yellow hard copy your child has and return tomorrow.

Also, please fill out the Activity Survey on pink paper (also below in the Documents section) and return tomorrow.

What we did in class today...

Reading - Ask your child about "R&E 4.5" due Friday February 15

Writing - We revised our old stories and wrote new ones in our writer's notebook

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

We reviewed and graded examples of student current event summaries using the rubric for a second day. We reviewed causes of the French and Indian War.

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. R&E #4 due Tuesday January 29 (***Note: Any student who creates and develops a blog for their R&E will be allowed to skip the February R&E.)

Social Studies

Character Education

Business

1. Scholastic Book Orders due Friday 1.18.08

2. U of M study slips returned Friday 1.18.08

3. Activity Survey sheets returned 1.18.08

Goal Setting

Goal Setting sheets should be returned to Mr. Joe.

Documents

Combined Program In Education And Psychology

4116 SEB

610 E. UNIVERSITY AVENUE

ANN ARBOR, MI 48109-1259 Phone: 734-615-1800 Fax: 734-615-2164 kevinmil@umich.edu

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Your child’s teacher, Mr. Rick Joseph at Birmingham Covington School, is collaborating with the University of Michigan in a study sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Educational Sciences looking at how teachers monitor student understanding during the course of teaching.

We would like to videotape a regular lesson in your child’s class, including collecting video that shows the teacher’s perspective during the lesson. We intend to use these videotapes to improve the training of future teachers by showing them what classrooms look like from a teacher’s vantage point.

Your child’s participation in this study is simply to go about his or her normal activities. Participation will include one to two full class sessions of about 45 minutes. After we have finished videotaping your child’s classroom, we will give you the opportunity to watch the completed videotape. Your child’s participation in this research project is completely voluntary. You or your child may withdraw permission for your child’s participation at any time and for any reason without negative consequences for you or your child. The information that is obtained during this research project will be kept strictly confidential and will not become a part of your child’s school record.

These videotapes will be studied by our research team and will be seen by teachers in training and others participating in studies of how people learn from watching classroom video. They will be retained for future research and for use in teacher education. We will not identify your child or their school by name or in any other manner, although it is possible that they will be recognizable to people who might know them.

We will work with your child’s teacher to ensure that our presence does not disrupt the class and that the lessons we videotape are regular lessons. We hope that this work will help us to better prepare future teachers, so that beginning teachers come to the classroom with a better understanding of how to monitor students’ understanding.

There are no risks to your child for participating. We will keep students’ names and identities confidential, and their participation will have no affect on their grades. We ask your permission to allow your child to be involved in the information-gathering component of this project. Please review and complete the attached form regarding this project, and have your child return the form to his/her teacher when completed. Please keep one copy, in case you have any questions later.

If you or your child decide against participating, you may discontinue participation at any time by informing your child’s teacher or contacting us. If you request that your child not participate in this project, they will still participate in the lesson, but they will either not be recorded or their image will be obscured on the video so that they cannot be recognized.

This project has been reviewed by both the University of Michigan Institutional Review Board and Mrs. Dale Truding . Should you have questions regarding your child’s rights as a participant in research, please contact the Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board (540 E. Liberty Street, Suite 202, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2210, 734-936-0933 email: irbhsbs@umich.edu). If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Kevin Miller (734-615-1800 or kevinmil@umich.edu ) or Mr. Joseph.

Thank you for your consideration,

Kevin Miller, Professor of Educational Studies and Psychology

University Of Michigan

Classroom perspectives project

Please check one box:

□ I have read the above statement and agree to allow my child to be included in

The videotaped study of teacher cognition. This includes permission for project staff to use the video, audio, and written information collected in research and teacher training. I understand that my child’s full name will not be used in the materials that are developed and her/his identity will be treated with confidentiality to anyone outside the project staff. I also understand that he or she may be identifiable to people who know her/him. I understand that my child’s inclusion in this project is strictly voluntary and that her/his grades, placements, evaluations will not be affected by my decision. Finally, I understand that at any time and without penalty I may withdraw my permission for my child to be included such projects but existing materials and reports will stand.

□ I do not give permission for my child to be included in the videotaped study of teacher cognition.

Should you have questions regarding your rights as a participant in research, please contact the Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board, 540 E. Liberty Street, Suite 202, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2210, 734-936-0933 email: irbhsbs@umich.edu .

_______________________________________ __________________

signature, parent/guardian date

_______________________________________

signature, student

__________________________________ _____________________________

student’s name (please print) teacher’s name (please print)

please return this form to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.

First Name__________________________ Last Name_________________________________

January 10, 2008

1. What afterschool activities are you currently doing? (Include sports, music, animals, art, martial arts, hobbies, or anything else you’d like to let us know about.)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. If you are doing something where spectators can come and watch (like a game or a recital) please indicate the days, times, and locations below, or attach a schedule. We’d like to know about them, and possibly attend!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________