INNOVATIVE MODEL II

During the action research I created an innovative model to teach students the parts of speech. It was an infinite cube with each side displaying examples of each parts of speech. Each student had to read the example and identify the part of speech. 

 

Action Research on Improving English Writing Competency in High School Students of MVHSS, Manjappara through Guided Practice.

 During the vaccation period after a academic year , the school authorities had asked to conduct an extra class to help students develop English competency . I utilized this opportunity to conduct an action research on the topic 'Improving English Writing Competency in High School Students of MVHSS,Manjappara through Guided Practice." The class comprised of 20 students ,who joined the class voluntarily. The classes began by 24 April 2023 and ended on 20 May 2023 . The details of classes conducted are as follows . 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN : FIRST WEEK

I conducted an achievement test for testing the learner levels in English writing skills before implementing the action research . The datas were collected and recorded . Then I gave the students a short introduction on guided practice and the plan to be implemented for the coming weeks. Accordingly I began the first phase of guided practice, that is, ‘I Do’ or ‘Teacher Modeling’ phase where I teach the content using appropriate aids. The classes comprising week I began from  24 April 2023 to 29 April 2023. Throughout the week I taught them basic topics essential for developing English writing skills, such as the parts of speech, punctuation, use of capitals, basic grammar rules on subject-verb agreement , sentence structure, tenses and organization of ideas in a coherent manner.

            To teach parts of speech I had created an innovative model . The model was an infinite cube with eight faces , each face representing examples related to a part of speech. After teaching the concept of part of speech , I tried engaging with the students using this model by asking them to identify the part of speech represented by each face through reading the examples represented by each cube within a face. Students found it interesting and they captured the concept quickly.

To teach about articles I told them what an article is and I read a story . I asked students to mark the articles and to pay attention to where it is used. This was followed by giving them examples.

            To teach about punctuation marks and use of capital letters while writing I narrated a story of a prisoner who was hanged due to a mistake in the punctuation mark , which showed the importance of using punctuation marks while writing. Then I taught them the concept.

To teach about tenses I showed them a video . For better understanding I included videos for students that described the concept in their mother tongue ,i.e, Malayalam .

            To teach grammar rules on subject-verb agreement I made sure students know what is a subject and predicate , singular and plural. I helped them recollect this through writing on whiteboard and showing pictures on screen . Then taught them basic rules along with examples .

To teach sentence structures I explained clauses, then gave them examples on simple sentences , complex sentences and compound sentences. I also demonstrated how to create parallel construction . Students doubts were cleared by giving them examples.

To teach organization of ideas , I displayed a few images on screen and showed them how to organize these ideas to create a story or incident . Students raised numerous doubts upon which the concepts taught were revised . All their doubts were cleared .

              IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN : SECOND WEEK

In the second week , namely from 2 May 2023 to 6 May 2023, I implemented the ‘We Do’ or ‘Co-Construction’ phase where I along with students were involved in doing exercises related to the concepts taught. For practicing parts of speech I gave them few worksheets with exercises to complete. I read along each question and waited for their answers. I also corrected the errors they made on each question.

To practice articles, I displayed a slide containing a passage with articles to fill in the blanks. I called upon students to answer, then explained them the rules applied on filling with each article used.

To practice punctuation marks I gave them a worksheet to use appropriate punctuation marks wherever necessary. I also helped them use the right punctuation by explaining the contexts well.

For practicing tenses I gave them a worksheet on tenses , where they had to convert sentences from one tense to another . Some students found it difficult , then I explained the necessary concepts and helped them convert it.

I distributed few activity cards among groups ,which had pictures and students had to write the singular and plural forms. Further there were also sentences given to mark the subject and predicate.

I gave students to complete worksheets on simple , compound and complex sentences. I also asked them to create new sentences on each type. There were also vocabulary exercises for practice.

  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN :THIRD WEEK

In the third week, namely from 8 May 2023 to 13 May 2023,  I implemented the ‘You Do’ phase or the ‘Facilitation’ phase where I made students do compositions with partial withdrawal of my assistance. Initially I gave them profile writing to complete. Hints were given for each profile , which was to be used to  create the profile of the author. Students actively completed the given profiles using the rules on grammar that they learned . I had to help them only in a minor form.

             The next day I asked them to create diary entries on given situations. The situations given were based on the chapters that they learned in school. Students showed a remarkable change as their grammatical errors were minimal , punctuations improved and the texts written were also adhering to basic writing rules.

The next day I made them practice report writing . I went around the class checking their works . Students had raised a few doubts which I cleared by asking them a few questions and making them say the answer themselves.

I gave students few question on letter writing to complete the next day. Students completd it and I asked a few of them to read aloud their answers. I pointed out the errors ,which they tried correcting themselves.

 I next day I made them practice narrative writing . Here I displayed few pictures on screen and asked them to create a story out of it . Students displayed active participation. Students also showed improvement in sentence structures apart from grammar . I was hardly called upon to clear doubts and students were able to do the work almost independently.

                        IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN :FOURTH WEEK

The fourth week , namely from 15 May 2023 to 20 May 2023 ,I implemented the ‘Independent Practice’ phase where students had to do the given tasks independently. Accordingly throughout the week I gave them their syllabus oriented compositions and grammar exercises to complete. Conversations , correcting errors , creating narrations , newspaper reports , profile making , speech , notice writing , letter writing etc. Students were able to do independently , though not devoid of errors, but they had a shown a massive improvement from their previous performances.

The class ended with an achievement test which had questions on various writing compositions and grammar.