Week Four

I haven't made any changes to my action research project. My site supervisor loved my plan and idea for the campus. I would love any suggestions or comments.

Week Three Action Research Plan

SCHOOL VISION

Our mission, as the primary source of the public education in the community, is to meet the unique educational needs of our diverse population by providing a comprehensive quality education for students of the District.

GOAL

1. Discover and evaluate different effective methods of support for teachers at Robert E. Lee Elementary grades 3 -5 to help them effectively use RtI in their classroom to increase student performance.
2. Evaluate how the uses of PLC meetings benefit the implementation of RtI.

1.

Outcome: Evaluate the surveys and grasp an understanding of the knowledge base my teachers have with RtI.

Activity: Complete a survey and discuss the knowledge teachers have about RtI.

Resources: Assessments, Teacher Surveys

Responsibility: Kathryn French

Time Line: August 2010 - September 2010

Benchmark/Assessments: Survey, TPRI, 2010 TAKS Scores, Curriculum based assessments, benchmarks.

2.

Outcome: Discuss what makes RtI successful. Answer any questions about the PLC group and the RtI using a focus group.

Activity: Have a meeting with the different PLC groups as a focus group.

Resources: A list of pros and cons about teachers has about RtI. Also practice activity listening

Responsibility: Kathryn French, Rizvan Quadri

Time Line: August 2010 - September 2010

Benchmark/Assessments: Survey, TPRI, 2010 TAKS Scores, Curriculum based assessments, benchmarks.

3.

Outcome: Evaluate teachers implementing RtI in the classroom and meet one on one to conference about needs and ways I can assist the individual teachers.

Activity: Observe teachers in the classroom and model instruction for RtI.

Resources: Triumph Intervention Kit

Responsibility: Kathryn French

Time Line: September 2010 – May 2011

Benchmark/Assessments: Survey, TPRI, 2010 TAKS Scores, Curriculum based assessments, benchmarks.

4.

Outcome: Teachers find effective methods by having different supportive techniques from the instructional coach.

Activity: I will go into classrooms and model intervention as well as ask what the teachers needs are at the time.

Resources: Triumph Reading Kits

Responsibility: Kathryn French

Time Line: September 2010 – May 2011

Benchmark/Assessments: Survey, TPRI, 2010 TAKS Scores, Curriculum based assessments, benchmarks.

5.

Outcome: Evaluate the success of student’s scores, progress, etc, using RtI.

Activity: Compare scores from the previous year to this year’s scores.

Resources: Surveys and students scores

Responsibility: Kathryn French and 3^rd -5^th grade teachers

Time Line: April 2011

Benchmark/Assessment: Survey, TPRI, 2010 TAKS Scores, Curriculum based assessments, benchmarks.

6.

Outcome: Use reflection to evaluate how methods were or were not successful and evaluate to make changes for the next school year.

Activity: I will do a self-reflection on the implementation of RtI.

Resources: assessments and teachers surveys

Responsibility: Kathryn French

Time Line: May 2011 – June 2011

Benchmark/Assessment: Survey, TPRI, 2010 TAKS Scores, Curriculum based assessments, benchmarks.

Week 2 - Passions of Action Research

I learned alot this week about the wondering of action research. I learned about leading with passion and knowledge. There are nine areas of passion: staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, individual students, community/culture building, leadership skills, management, school performance, and social justice. I also spend also alot of researching what I wanted to provide for my campus as far as action research. I decided that I wanted to do action research on RTI. I am very excited about my action research project. Here is a piece of my ideas for my research.

Purpose
I have stepped into a new role at my school as the Instructional Coach. At our school we have not had a present instructional coach in a few years. We are trying to develop a stronger RTI in reading. After long discussions with my site supervisor, he suggested that I focus my action research on RTI and the needs of the school. My plan is to look at the data from TAKS, TPRI, ITBS and develop tier 2 and tier 3 groups for the start of the school year. From there I will focus my time and research on assisting teachers with strategies for tier 2 intervention in the classroom. I will continue to use the data throughout the year to drive the intervention groups. Our campus will reevaluate after the data from state test comes in during the spring semester.
Significance
This action research will help all involved. It will first help the students get the support they need and extra assists in Reading. This will also help the teachers because it will teach them how to effectively use intervention strategies and small groups. I am hoping that it will raise state testing scores but more importantly help students become proficient readers. The action research will provide teachers with a clear list of students, show them the data need to drive the instruction and show the progress made in students reading scores.

I cant wait to see the journey that next week will lead me into. Until next week.......

How Might a Researcher use Blogging?

I believe that there are many ways that a researcher can use a blog. Blogging is great for sharing with other administrators. You have the ability to receive feedback and gain new ideas from other researchers. Blogging is also a great way for reflecting on your research and log your data. It makes you think and put your thoughts to paper. I think I am really going to enjoy learning to blog and blogging my reflections.

What is Action Research?

I am currently enrolled in Lamar University's graduate program for Educational Leadership. I am taking a research class to help assist me in advanced research. This week I have been studying action research. I came to realize this week that I have always done action research; I just didn't know what it was called. Action research is the process of a principal engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry. (Dana 2)Inquiry is the wondering or questioning that researchers develop. They take their wonderings and collect data and then from there analyze the data to make informed decisions and changes according the needs of the school. Action research was developed from teacher action research. Action research is a great professional development tool for principals who tend to be loners in development. Another aspect of action research that I learned this week in my study was the difference between traditional research and action research. There are two types of traditional research that I have dominated educational research: process- product and qualitative or interpretive. Basically the differences between the two traditional types of research and action research is traditional research has an outsider conducting the research and reporting their findings and action research makes the teachers and principals take ownership and research the needs of the school. Action research is focused on providing insight into educator’s own needs and practice making an effort to change the school. As I continued to study this week, I found that action research is a great professional development tool for administrators. Principals become in charge of their own learning and therefore are able to better understand and shape the school based on its needs. In education we are continual changing and evolving so should our research. I found that there are many benefits to action research. First of all, Dana discusses how important it is that administrators are conductors of their own learning. Action research is a meaningful way to grow professionally. Conducting action research in the school setting can help promote best practices to flourish at your school. A huge benefit that is seems to be a common thread throughout the texts is the ability to share your wonderings and discoveries with other educators. The biggest issue for principals in conducting action is time. There never seems to be enough time in the day. I found some suggestions for how to make time for action research. They are make it a daily habit, schedule in time for action research and learning, and finally make it part of the normal administrative duties you already have to perform i.e. AYP. There are several different settings where action research can take place. A few are: university coursework, superintendent/ district meetings, leadership teams, and professional learning communities. I have discovered that the greatest leadership skill one needs to develop over action research is the ability to reflect. Principals need to learn to reflect and with that skill they will be able to make better decisions regarding their campus. I also think that reflecting it the most overlooked and forgot leadership skills. It is essential for one to take time to develop this skill with action research. I have learned so much about action research and I cannot wait to study more about the benefits and how to become a better action researcher. Until next time…..