Heather's Action Research Adventure

Monday, August 6, 2012

Action Research Project

Goal: Improving Economically Disadvantaged students’ Reading STAAR scores
Action Step(s)	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline: start/end	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Small group instruction – Students will engage in Guided Reading group 4-5 times a week with me.	Heather Barrow	Start: September 10, 2012 End: April 19, 2013	· Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading Program	· Running Records (2-3 per 6 weeks)
2. Analyze 3-week averages and 6-week averages – I will use our electronic grade-book to collect data on these students	Heather Barrow	Start: August 27, 2012 End: June 6, 2013	· eSchool program	· Analyze students’ grades improving, staying constant, or declining
3. 3^rd and 4^th grade teachers will administer the STAR reading assessment in the computer lab	3^rd and 4^th grade Teachers	Start: August 27, 2012 End: September 10, 2012	· STAR reading program	· Analyze individual data for each classroom
4. Reading Inventory on 3^rd and 4^th grade students that have been selected	Heather Barrow	Start: September 3, 2012 End: September 7, 2012	· Fountas and Pinnell Reading Inventory	· Analyze each students’ independent reading level
5. Find teacher mentors for our selected students	Heather Barrow and Dr. Evans	Start: September 3, 2012 End: September 15, 2012	· Interested Teachers	· Making sure each student gets a mentor and the mentors understand their responsibility
6. 3^rd and 4^th grade teachers will administer the 1^st 6 weeks benchmark	3^rd and 4^th grade teachers	Start: October 2, 2012 End: October 5, 2012	· Campus Reading Benchmark	· Teacher Data reports · Sub-pop report
7. Teacher / Parent survey	3^rd and 4^th grade teachers / student’s parents	Start: October 12, 2012 End: October 19, 2012	· Survey	· Analyze information from teachers and parents
8. Reading Inventory on 3rd and 4th grade students that have been selected	Heather Barrow	Start: November 5 , 2012 End: November 9, 2012	· Fountas and Pinnell Reading Inventory	· Analyze each students data · Report back to teachers and administrators
9. 3^rd and 4^th grade teachers will administer the 2^nd 6 weeks benchmark	3^rd and 4^th grade teachers	Start: November 12, 2012 End: November 16, 2012	· Campus Reading Benchmark	· Teacher Data reports · Sub-pop report
10. 3^rd and 4^th grade teachers will administer the Reading CBA	3^rd and 4^th grade teachers	Start: December 10, 2012 End: December 14, 2012	· Campus Reading CBA	· Teacher Data reports · Sub-pop report
11. 3^rd and 4^th grade teachers will administer the STAR reading assessment in the computer lab	3^rd and 4^th grade Teachers	Start: December 10, 2012 End: December 14, 2012	· STAR reading program	· Analyze individual data for each student
12. Meet with 3^rd,4^th grade, and principal to discuss data	3^rd, 4^thgrade teachers, Heather Barrow, and Dr. Evans	Start: December 17, 2012	· Teacher reports from the Reading CBA	· Analyze and plan for our students weaknesses
13. Reading Inventory on 3rd and 4th grade students that have been selected	Heather Barrow	Start: January 10, 2013 End: January 14, 2013	· Fountas and Pinnell Reading Inventory	· Analyze each students data · Report back to teachers and administrators
14. 3^rd and 4^th grade teachers will administer the Reading CBA	3^rd and 4^th grade teachers	Start: February 25, 2013 End: March 1, 2013	· Campus Reading CBA	· Teacher Data reports · Sub-pop report
15. Meet with 3^rd,4^th grade, and principal to discuss data	3^rd, 4^thgrade teachers, Heather Barrow, and Dr. Evans	Start: March 4, 2013	· Teacher reports from the Reading CBA	· Analyze and plan for our students weaknesses
16. Reading Inventory on 3rd and 4th grade students that have been selected	Heather Barrow	Start: March 25, 2013 End: March 28, 2013	· Fountas and Pinnell Reading Inventory	· Analyze each students data · Report back to teachers and administrators
17. Reading Inventory on 3rd and 4th grade students that have been selected	Heather Barrow	Start: May 6, 2013 End: May 10, 2013	· Fountas and Pinnell Reading Inventory	· Analyze each students data · Report back to teachers and administrators
18. Analyze STAAR Data	Heather Barrow	Start: May 25, 2013 End: June 6, 2013	· STAAR DATA	· Analyze each student · Report back to teachers and administrators

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Week 2 Reflection

Lesson of the week was inspired by Dr. Timothy Chargois, "Be a lifelong learner." This is something I believe in, but is is always nice to hear it from someone else.

The readings were insightful in helping to narrow down my "wonderings" this week. I really enjoyed reading about the nine areas that Dana describes as major wonderings of many school leaders: staff development, curriculum development, individual teacher(s), individual student(s), school culture/community, leadership, management, school performance, and social justice or equity issues.

The three school leaders, Dr. Johnny Briseno, Dr. Timothy Chargois, and Dr. Kirk Lewis, that were interviewed helped give me some insight on the importance of action research. These men are very data driven and put data to use to drive instruction and decision-making.

I have nailed down my action research project: "Why are our Economically disadvantaged students scoring lower than our other students?" I want to look into classroom grades, amount of time in tutoring, what type of instruction are they receiving (whole group / small group / individualized), what interventions are in place for these students, what RtI data do we have on them, do they have mentors, are their parents supportive, and are they involved in extracurricular activities at school?

Sunday, July 22, 2012

To Blog or Not?

Blogging is an awesome way for educational leaders to collaborate, share, and problem solve with other professionals. In this day and age, it is more important now than ever for educational leaders to seek out solutions and advice from other leaders in our field to ensure we are meeting the needs of our ever changing students' needs.

This is a great way to keep track of how our thinking as educational leaders is growing and changing over time. It is important to revisit journals and reflect on our thinking.

What is Action Research

“Practitioner inquiry” or “classroom research” or “action research” is known for the practitioner (teachers and principals) being the knowledge generator. This model focuses on the practitioner's concerns and engages practitioners in the design, data collections, and interpretations of data around their questions. This model has many benefits: theories and knowledge are generated from research, practitioners become collaborators in educational research by investigating their own problems, and practitioners play a part in the research process, which makes them more likely to facilitate change.

Administrative inquiry is a systematic approach to solve problems in education (classroom, campus, and district level) using both quantitative and qualitative data. An educational leader needs to implement a school vision. This is a critical component to be a successful educational leader. Inquiry is an ongoing evaluation of how to solve problems by collecting and analyzing data, asking appropriate questions, and continuing to ask questions that involves reasoning and processing.

Successful teachers utilize inquiry based teaching to promote student learning. Since teachers are successful using inquiry based teaching then educational leaders could and should be successful using this method to encourage thinking and questioning of themselves and their teaching staff to continually grow as professionals. When an educational leader promotes inquiry as a way to grow as a professional, then they will lead teachers to grow and inquire as a professional. When a successful school utilizes inquiry to solve problems, then this strategy will enhance the learning environment for the students to succeed.

I plan to do an inquiry on "Why our economically disadvantaged students score lower than our other students?" I want to look into classroom grades, amount of time in tutoring, what interventions are in place for these students, what RtI data do we have on them, do they have mentors, are their parents supportive, and are they involved in extracurricular activities at school?