The CFG As Research Team (CART) awardees met for our second support session on February 5, 2008, at Stovall Academy. Present were Debbie, Sharon, Mandi, Acquenette, Sonia, Robin, Cheryl, Terri, Ruby, Nichole, Carolyn, Tim, Chong-Hao, Denise, Michaelann, Lauren, and Donna. The objectives of the meeting were to build community among the CART Grant groups, serve as each other's accountability group, and determine next steps for support.

After Connections and reviewing the ground rules, we did the icebreaker "Self-Disclosure: What's In Your Wallet?" We each chose an item from our purses or wallets and shared what that artifact might reveal about us. My favorites were the high-tech immigration identity card and the trinkets from students that teachers valued so much.

We spent a little time taking care of administrative announcements and reminders, and then moved to the main part of the meeting. We asked each team to create an artifact that described where they were in the research process and acknowledged any changes they'd like to make. Besides chart paper and markers, we also brought the leftover craft supplies from the CFG Reunion including tinsel, pom-poms, chenille stems, and glitter glue. When I tried a similar activity three years ago with the Teacher As Researcher groups, they ignored the fun supplies and just made posters. I was very pleased that several CART awardees utilized the unusual materials to describe their research teams' work!

We then did a Gallery Walk where everybody had an opportunity to both explain their artifact and get feedback as well as rotate around the room to find out more about the other projects and give feedback to their peers.

Click on the thumbnail photos to see a larger photo.

The Reflections are in the extended entry.