Lesson Plan Template



Graphing Reading Fluency Using Excel

EdTech 541

Your Name: Tyler Keefe

Lesson Title: Graphing Reading Fluency Using Excel

Introduction: Our students are timed for reading fluency weekly in class. Records of their results are kept on a clipboard for me and on a graph the students fill in and color for themselves. This helps the students to see their progress as they work towards the 5th grade goal of 145 words per minute by the end of the year. In this lesson, the students will start recording their reading timings on an Excel worksheet and then have this data converted into a bar graph showing their results. The bar graph will show their data from both Cold Reads (first time reading a story) and Hot Reads (after the story has been practiced). A great way to increase fluency is to reread the same passage. Although the Hot Read should always be higher, over time the goal is to see an increase in the cold read as well. The cold read would be the true fluency score.

Grade or Age Level of Student(s): This will be used with a 5th grade class, but could be used with grade levels close to 5th grade also.

Objectives:

The students will be able to:

-improve throughout the year to reach or pass the mark of 140 words per minute

-input data on an existing spreadsheet in the correct cells

-use this data to create a bar graph to represent that data

-use a formula to show the current score as opposed to the Spring Goal

-use a formula to show the increase from the cold read to the hot read

-open and save their spreadsheet on their folder on the school’s server

Standards Addressed: The Following Standards will be addressed

Technology Standards

1. Basic operations and concepts

• Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.

• Students are proficient in the use of technology.

5 Technology research tools

• Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

6 Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

• Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions.

Timeline: This lesson will be completed in a one hour block, but the students will be able to access their information and add to it as the year goes on.

Materials: The reading the students use is from the Read Naturally Program. Some data has already been collected so students will be able to transfer this immediately into the spread sheet. The students will work on their own computers in the computer lab, where there is also a projector to display the example to the whole group. A template spreadsheet will be provided for students to enter their name and the correct reading scores in the correct place. Students will be provided with a list of their previous reading scores and the graph they have created.

Grouping Strategies: This lesson will take place in our schools computer lab, were all students will work individually on their own computer.

Learning Activities:

1. Timed fluency reading:

A timed fluency reading will be completed for the whole class. A helper comes in every Monday and Friday and does the readings for us. Each student will read for one minute with the helper. The amount of words read correctly is recorded on the clipboard under the corresponding date and story number for each student. Students also have this number recorded on their own graph which they have been filling in also.

2. Opening the spreadsheet and saving it in their folder on the server:

The students will be doing this activity in the computer lab. Each student will work independently at a computer. After arriving, the students will need to open the “Student” folder from the desktop, the open the folder titled Keefe. The template for this assignment is titled Fluency Spreadsheet Template and is located in this folder. After opening this file the students should immediately choose Save As and save the file as their name Fluency Spreadsheet in their folder. For Example, John would save his file as John Fluency Spreadsheet in his folder under Students/Keefe/John. (File, Save As, the student’s file, change the name and choose save) Once the file is saved the students can proceed with the spreadsheet lesson.

3. Review what we know about spreadsheets:

We will review the following vocabulary while pointing it out on a spreadsheet on the projector.

Row – horizontal

Column - vertical

Cell – the intersection between a row and a column, each box on a spreadsheet is a cell

Cell Pointer – the heavy border around a cell

Column Headings – the letters at the top of each column

Row Headings – the numbers at the beginning (left side) of each row

Formula Bar – displays the active cells contents and its address

Hard Copy – paper copy

4. Personalize the spreadsheet:

Locate cell A2 and type your name. (Click on cell A2 so the Cell Pointer is surrounding this cell. Type in your name)

Locate cell C2 and type your teacher’s name: Keefe

Locate cell D2 and type your grade: 5th

5. Input Data:

Starting with the Cold read for story number 1 (C6), input your data from your graph. Be careful to list only the cold read scores in column C and the hot read scores in column D. After entering all of the data, double check your spreadsheet against your hard copy.

6. Create function for Improvement section:

Locate and select cell E6. In this cell we will type the function to show our improvement from the cold read to the hot read. Your improvement can be found by finding the difference between the two reads. This function will begin with the equal symbol, then the hot read cell minus the cold read cell. For cell E6 it would be =d6-c6. (it doesn’t mater if you use capitals or lowercase letters, both will work) After completing the function and clicking enter, the function will automatically do the math and provide you with the answer in cell E6. You can do this for every cell or highlight cell E6, right click and choose copy, then highlight cells E7 through E30 (click and drag over the cells desired) and right click and choose paste. This will automatically change every function to the correct cell numbers. Note: A positive number is the amount of improvement from your cold read to your hot read; a negative number is the decrease from your cold read to your hot read.

7. Create function for Still Needed section:

Locate and select cell F6. In this cell we will type the function to show the improvement still needed to reach our goal of 140 words. This function will again begin with the equal symbol, and then the goal minus the amount of words read. Since our fluency scores are counted from cold reads, we will use the cold read score for this function. For cell F6 it would be =140-c6. Again you can highlight and copy cell F6, the highlight cells F7-F30 and click paste. Note: A positive number is the number of words still needed to reach your goal; a negative number is the number of words over the goal.

8. Create a chart to show hot and cold reads:

To insert a chart, choose Insert, then Chart. This will bring up the chart wizard. For this data, a column chart (similar to a bar graph) works best. You can choose from the different sub-types of charts, although the first sub-type works well. Click next. You will need to set the data range. If you click on the icon on the right of the data range box, it will bring you to the spreadsheet to highlight the headings and data you want included in the chart. Highlight starting at the headings Cold WPM and Hot WPM and follow all the way through your data, for the example you would highlight C5 and D5 through C14 and D14, then click on the same icon to take you back to the chart wizard. This will bring up a preview of your chart. Click next. Name your Chart Your First Name Fluency Chart. The Category can be named Story Numbers and the Value should be labeled Words Per Minute. Click next, make sure the choice “As Object In” is chosen and click Finish. The chart will be created and posted on the existing sheet. You can move the chart to any part of the sheet you would like.

Assessment: Assessment will be based on the completion of the spread sheet and graph. The fluency scores are used to help determine a grade for fluency in reading.

References:

ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS*S)



Idaho State Department of Education 4th Grade Language Arts Standards

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