The document summarizes an action research project on implementing task-based learning activities to develop vocabulary acquisition in early childhood students. It describes the research question, objectives, implementation process, data collection methods, and preliminary findings. Tasks including memory games, charades, pictographs, and collaborative sentence building were used. Surveys, student work, videos, and interviews were used to collect data on vocabulary learning and autonomy. Initial results found that chaining activities helped vocabulary learning and student participation increased over time.

1. Our action research projectnotebook... By Dalia Díaz Mónica Orjuela

2. Research question… What is the effect of the implementation of Task-based approach – task continuity through chained activities – on developing vocabulary acquisition at early childhood? (3 to 5 years old stage)

3. Task continuity chain: memory game, charades, pictograph, online tasks and collaborative sentence building time

6. Timeline (Annex1) Timeline of Data Collection and Implementation http://virtual.unisabana.edu.co/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=22000

11. Implementation and data collection PRE-STAGE

12. Surveys for parents and students http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=seq0_2fTDj7I8Sae0RKF5kOA_3d_3d http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=vvhyadf5tjBebbsZWhho3Q_3d_3d

13. Surveys’ Analysis Some patterns of parents’ involvement in our study shows that only 36% of the families have get acquainted with the surveys set since the beginning of the research. Based on the population that has already answered to the two surveys set in Survey Monkey (16 families out of 44), significant percentages are shown concerning some aspects: For survey 1 called ‘Student-Parents questionnaire’: *87.5% (14 families) come from nonbilingual prekindergartens; * 66.7% (10 families) of the fathers speak English; * 62.5% (10 families) of the mothers do not speak English; * 87.5% (14 families) play games together every day. For survey 2 called “Students’ Learner Profile – Survey for parents,” patterns were shown as follows: LANGUAGE NEEDS & AFFECTIVE NEEDS * 86.7% (13 families) say that students are motivated to learn English; * 93.3% (14 families) say that students feel happy in the English class. * 46.7% (7 families) say that students like to listen to stories in English. For the purpose of our research, a goal should be increase this percentage, as well as to promote students’ participation in story-telling activities.

15. Surveys’ Analysis DEVELOPMENT OF METACOGNITIVE NEEDS *80% (12 families) of the students talk to their parents about their progresses, goals and achievements. *80% (12 families) of the students are encouraged to use what they have learned at school in other contexts. This is also a relevant issue to take into account for the project’s data collection procedures.

16. Diagnosticactivity’s proforma

17. Diagnostic activity flashcards’ sample. Words beginning with F,S,M,L and D 5 different words of each.

18. Diagnostic activity video

19. Diagnostic activity analysis The 44 students were exposed to the 56 words of the vocabulary to be studied, to observe previous knowledge. Proformas were filled out showing that: 54.4% of the students (26/44) do not know a word from the vocabulary that will be studied (0/56 words). 18.1% of the students (8/44) know 1.7% of the words from the vocabulary that will be studied (1/56). 6.8% of the students (3/44) know 3.5% of the words from the vocabulary that will be studied (2/56). 9.9% of the students (4/44) know 5.3 % of the words from the vocabulary that will be studied (3/56). 2.2% of the students (1/44) know 7.1% of the words from the vocabulary that will be studied (4/56). 2.2% of the students (1/44) know 8.9% of the words from the vocabulary that will be studied (5/56). 2.2% of the students (1/44) know 12.5% of the words from the vocabulary that will be studied (7/56).

20. Implementation and data collection WHILE-STAGE

21. Implementation Program GIMNASIO FEMENINO ENGLISH AREA - PRESCHOOL ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT PROGRAM Teacher(s): Dalia Díaz – MónicaOrjuela Time of the project: 8 weeks (including recess week) Group: Prekindergarten (Premontessori 01, 02, 03) Level: Elementary Starting date: September 1st, 2009. Final Date: October 23rd, 2009

23. Aims-To develop vocabulary acquisition with focus on phonological awareness favouring the identification, recognition and usage of such vocabulary in context. - To recall the vocabulary learned when visualized. - To use the vocabulary learned in context. - To use self access learning products to develop autonomous learning.

24. Implementation Program PROCEDURE 1. Teacher introduces the new sound and related vocabulary, by means of songs, especially designed learning objects, flashcards and realia. 2. Students color the illustrations on designed worksheets (two of the same for each student) while drilling the vocabulary. 3. Students cut the illustration to make a set of vocabulary cards with which to play memory game, charades and pictograph. 4. Teacher models how to play (memory game, charades and pictograph) in a whole group activity. 5. Students are guided to play in pairs using a set of vocabulary cards. Groups will be monitored one by one in order to check for correct pronunciation and proper game procedure. 6. Students take the vocabulary cards home in order to have self access for autonomous practice. 7. Students self access ICTs designed tools available at the school’s web page in autonomous way. 8. Students make a follow-up of their autonomous performance by filling out a “Daily achievement format” sent home. 9. A week later assessment implementation is applied through a pictograph activity. 10. Students are invited to use the vocabulary in context in a collaborative story telling time.

25. Implementation Program RESOURCES · Specially designed worksheets. - Vocabulary cards. - Collaborative story-telling time illustrations - assessment - Flashcards (Vocabulary box). - Autonomy daily achievement format. ·- Especially designed self-access online tasks. · Videobeam. · Computer. · Data collection instruments: Proformas, logs, note-taking, video recordings (camera), photos, documents. GRADING CRITERIA Qualitative: Students’ motivation, attitudes and performance towards the process of vocabulary acquisition and autonomy development. Quantitative: Assessment on vocabulary acquired and usage of it in context.

26. Procedure for Memory Game: Photos

27. Procedure for Memory Game: Video

28. Procedure for Memory Game: Video

29. Procedure for Memory Game: Video

30. Memory Game: Notes and video taken show that the methodology used for introducing the initial sounds taught and their corresponding vocabulary was clearer the second time and students were more autonomous in the elaboration of the cards although cutting the cards is still a fine motor skill difficult for some students. This could mean that with time, students will get used to handle the Memory Game easily and be ready to start applying the second task which is Charades.

31. Charades

32. Charades: Students have shown interest in this game, and have commented that they play it with their parents and all of them like to mimic the meaning of the vocabulary word cards. This is a positive change of scheme using the same cards, as proposed in our methodology.

33. Pictograph Photos

34. Pictograph Video

35. Pictographs: The worksheets designed to assess students had shown as a pattern, that students have some difficulties to make their drawings clear, –due to their age – even for them. However, developing fine motor skills is one of Premontessori’s goals not only in English, also in other subject areas, and this practice develops not only these kind of motor skills, creativity is developed as well. After the second letter, these worksheets were replaced by the blank paper used in the collaborative story telling time to benefit students communication through drawing the stories in context, this change allows them to make free use of the space, and saves time for independent assessment. At home, pictographs will be used to identify and practice isolated vocabulary words as well.

36. Online tasks – Comments from parents Premontessori online tasks at Gimnasio femenino web page. http://www.gimnasiofemenino.edu.co/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=35&Itemid=59

37. Online tasks –photos from parents

38. Document:Autonomous product from online task II http://www.gimnasiofemenino.edu.co/portal/index.php?view=article&catid=35%3Apreescolar&id=67%3Atask&option=com_content&Itemid=59

39. Collaborative sentence building Video

40. Collaborative sentence building : For the first letter, only two students’ of each group participated in creating the sentences with the vocabulary taught. For the second letter, the participation increased up to five students in two of the groups. The pattern shown is that use of L1 is combined with the production of the specific vocabulary studied, demonstrating understanding of the purpose of the activity.

41. Proforma

42. Document:Collaborative sentence building time product “A snake eats a sandwich with a spoon , sings and plays in the slide at school under the sun”.

43. Autonomy development

44. Document:Autonomy daily achievement format

45. Autonomous learning –photos from parents

48. Document:Performance monthly achievement format

49. Interview - Questionnaire for parents October 19, 2009 Dear parents, You are cordially invited to meet us on Friday October 23rd -after receiving the grade report- to let us know how things have been working at home concerning our English project. Please, answer the questionnaire attached, and bring it along with your comments, questions or doubts. Thanks for your support. Student’s name ________________________________________________________________ We received the questionnaire and the invitation for an interview concerning Premontessori English project. Mother’s/Father’s name_________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

50. Interview - Questionnaire for parents Interview questions Family ______________________________________________________________________ 1. Do you already have your vocabulary box at home? _______________________________________________________________________ 2. Is the vocabulary box in a place for your daughter’s easy access? ______________________________________________________________________ 3. Have you played with the vocabulary cards on a regular basis? About how many times a week do you play? ______________________________________________________________________ 4. Has your daughter invited you to play? About how many times? ______________________________________________________________________ 5. Have you invited her to play? About how many times? ______________________________________________________________________ 6. Do you use of the vocabulary orally when playing? ______________________________________________________________________

51. Interview - Questionnaire for parents 7. Have you helped your daughter access the online tasks uploaded in the school’s web page? _______________________________________________________________________ 8. Which online tasks have you tried? _______________________________________________________________________ 9. What is your opinion about the project so far? _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 10. Can you mention some positive/negative aspects about it? __________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

52. Objectives achieved Main objective : - The implementation of a methodology through the use of Task Based Learning - Task-continuity – “chaining of activities” –, to foster vocabulary acquisition skills that will progressively allow students play with the words to build sentences (Willis, 2001, p.129), enhancing language use in context. Secondary objectives: - The design and implementation of learning objects/products/online tasks to enhance students’ vocabulary acquisition skills. - To promote autonomy.

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