Post # 2: research

Here is what I have been up to...

I have been continuing my research on the literacy interventions. I emailed all the companies of the Kentucky interventions again with more thorough questions. My next step is to organize all the information that I have so that I know what I still need to find out about the interventions. Also, I got a list of the intervention that are used by some of the schools we may be visiting in New Zealand and have started researching them. Dr. Lindsey gave me a New Zealand book that has a lot of information about teaching literacy in schools that I have started reading.

Currently, I am working on transcribing the phone interview between Drs. Fernandez and Lindsey and Brittany. I was unable to be there when the phone call was happening because I was in class. They called a New Zealand teacher and got a lot of great information from her about the interventions her school uses. I am definitely starting to see the difference in the strategies used here and the strategies in New Zealand!

I cant believe that the trip is almost 100 days away! I went out on black Friday and got a great deal on some luggage from the trip. Additionally, I am working on my Christmas list because I plan on asking for a lot of things that I need for the trip! I can't wait!!

First post!

About a month ago, I received the exciting news that I was chosen to be a part of a research team that compares literacy in the U.S. to literacy in New Zealand. In March, my team and I will travel to Auckland, New Zealand. I have never been out of the country before, and I am really looking forward to experiencing a new culture.

Initially, I was assigned the task of comparing the teaching standards between Kentucky and New Zealand. I started comparing the standards using a feature analysis. My research is currently on hold because I am working on literacy interventions in preparation for Posters-at-the-Capitol in February. I have been emailing the companies that produce the interventions currently being used in local elementary schools to find out more information about the products.

Before being offered this opportunity, I did not know much about New Zealand. Lately, I have been looking into the country and their education system. During our trip in March, we will being going in schools and observing New Zealand classrooms. As a future teacher, I am excited to experience a different education system than I am used to. I look forward to all of the things that I will learn from being a part of this research study!