Christin Gayton

Dewey Lesson- Impact on Learning

Dewey Introduction:

I created a Piktochart to introduce/reinforce the Dewey Classification System to Students.

https://magic.piktochart.com/output/15704915-dewey-flyer

Pre/Post Test:
1) Which division does LITERATURE belong?

A. 600-699 B. 200-299 C. 800-899 D. 500-599

2) Which division does LANGUAGE belong?

A. 400-499 B. 800-899 C. 500-599 D. 900-999

3) Which division does TECHNOLOGY belong?

A. 200-299 B. 000-099 C. 600-699 D. 500-599

4) Which division does SOCIAL SCIENCES belong?

A. 200-299 B. 300-399 C. 400-499 D. 500-599

5) Which division does FINE ARTS and RECREATION belong?

A. 500-599 B. 600-699 C. 700-799 D. 800-899

Matching

6) 900-999 A. General Works

7) 500-599 B. History/Geography

8) 000-099 C. Philosophy/Psychology

9) 100-199 D. Religion

10) 200-299 E. Science

School and Community Demographics:

School: South Central Middle School in Bartow County

Demographics:

Bartow County serves approximately 14,200 students among 21 schools in grades PK-12. South
Central Middle School serves 648 of these students.

White 76.9%, Hispanic 10.4%, African American 8.7%, Multiracial 3%, Asian 0.8%

Native American 0.2%

Males compromise 51% and females compromise 49%

Average graduation rate is 67% and student teacher ratio is 15:1

Free/reduced school lunch students 61%; South Central Middle School it is higher at 76%

There is technology available in all the classrooms. At all grade levels, every student has access to
either an I pad or laptop. At SCMS, each student is assigned their own laptop at the beginning of the
year, with the option to take it home.

Student Characteristics:

6th grade ELA Class:

My first period ELA class has 21 students. Out of these 14 are female and 5 are male. I divided the sub
groups into boys and girls.

Standard(s):

ELAGSE6SL1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and

teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas and
expressing their own clearly.

a. Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that
preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under
discussion.

ELAGSE6SL4: Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent
descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact,
adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

ELAGSE6W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts,
and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

a. Introduce a topic; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition,
classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g.,
charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

b. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information
and examples.

ELAGSE6W6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to
interact and collaborate with others.

Activity Explanation:

While coming up with ideas about activities for this lesson, I kept in mind what my administrators want
to see when they walk into our classroom. The three things they like to see are differentiation, student
collaboration, and use of technology.

* Students were separated into partners based on Lexile Level in order to collaborate on the activity.

Activity:

A) First, we watched a video on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lC4mlKcbmU

B) Dewey Browse:

1) Go to http://www.wartgames.com/themes/reading/deweydecimals.html

2) Explore each Dewey Decimal Class

3) For each class/division search three websites or apps.

4) Choose one website or app from EACH class and write a 4-5 sentence summary about the app.
Include how it can be useful in school. For example subject area, topic, unit etc.

5) Share ate least one website or app with a teacher. You will receive Chieftain Cash if a teacher tells
me you shared with them.

Go have fun exploring!!!!

Narrative of Findings:

When I first mentioned the Dewey Decimal System to the class all of the students were familiar
with it, or had at least heard of it. However, there were only a couple that could tell me what it was
actually used for. When I asked them how did they get books for research assignments in elementary
school, majority of them relied that the teacher already had the books picked out for them, or they did
their research on the computers and didn't use books.

As mentioned earlier, there are a total of 21 students in the class, 14 female and 7 males. I started off
by showing them the Piktochart and discussed it a little. Next, I gave the pre test. As whole group, the
average was a 47.14 %. The girls averaged a 50% on the pre test and the boys a 41.4%. I had two girls
score an 80% on the pre test, which I thought was impressive. On the post test, as a whole group the
average was a 60.9%, which is a 13.76% increase. The girls average on the post test was a 65%, which
is a 15% increase and the boys was a 52.8%, which is an 11.4% increase.
Reflection:

Strengths: Overall, I think one of the strengths about the lesson was I was able to make it meaningful.
They searched for websites and apps in each of the classes that they could actually use in the
classroom. I use the website NEWSELA in my classroom and several students got excited and pointed
out that it was one of the websites on the 000's. Another site they found relevant to what they use in
class are Dictionary.com in the 400's. One student told the science teacher about a site he found in the
500's, Geology.com, that could be used in class since they are studying rocks and minerals.

Weaknesses: I believe a weakness with this lesson is that is was all technology based and conducted on
the students laptops. Our media center is still not open to students yet, so I would have liked to have
them go on some type of scavenger hunt and find books in the various classes. Maybe take what they
are studying in each class and find books related to them. For example, books about rocks and minerals
for science, books on narrative writing for ELA, books about decimal and fractions for math, and map
skills for social studies. They could have even ties in their connections classes for art, PE. Music,
computers, and health.

Reflection: I liked the lesson and how I was able to make it relevant to the students, their classes, and
what they are learning. So, I wouldn't really change the lesson, but add more to it as mentioned above
with an actual trip to the library to search for books in the various classes. I also would like to give
more time to the lesson. I only took about half of a period over two days for a total of about 75 minutes.

Overall, the students enjoyed the lessons and some of them asked if they have free time can they
continue exploring.
 References

Browse the Web by Dewey. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.wartgames.com/themes/

reading/deweydecimals.html

[Stapler, W.]. (2014, November 12). Dewey for Kids. [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lC4mlKcbmU