what the heck am i researching?

i have just a few million questions for anyone reading this about my research topic. i'm not sure what to focus on and then i have concerns about collecting field research before the end of this year.

first, i am interested in many topics. i would maybe like to research kids who enter the 8th grade unable to read or who might read significantly, significantly below their "grade level," whatever that means (1st, 2nd, 4th grade reading level). we have so many diagnostic tests that are not compatable with one another, i don't know where to begin regarding someone's actual definite level. i am curious about brain research and teaching strategies, but don't know how to collect anything from my kids. this is not the time of year we do any diagnostic things. it is also a time of year when the 8th graders who will be moving to high school do a good deal of reflecting and preparing for next year. we don't really do any new reading strategies, etc.

second, i would kind of like to know why kids don't really run their own writing groups as well as adults do, other than the obvious age issue. i didn't really do writing groups this year due to almost 30 minutes having been chopped off of each of my class periods. my adjustment to the time difference wasn't what i would call smooth. so i cut it out, but kept author's chair. i wondered last year why some kids really got into writing groups and some just hung out. my instinct is that some kids like writing and some just go through the motions until my class is over and that this is not really a researchable topic.

who knows? i have lots of concerns and i want my topic to be something i can try out in my classes next year. i would like my topic to be something that improves my teaching and that teaches me something immediately useful for my students.

so.....having no real formal research experience, what are your thoughts and what would you suggest? any comments are welcome!!! i'll keep brainstorming, too!

thanks!

hello

hello!

this is my brand new blog for the csuwp advanced institute!

steph