draft action research

Steps to follow in Action Research == Discipline Plan
Describe the problem and area of focus.	4th grade gen ed students at LS are receiving too many referrals. It is imperative that the faculty develop and implement a consistent plan for discipline. This plan must include rewards and consequences.
Define the factors involved in your area of focus * curriculum *student outcomes *instructional strategies *class	There are many factors that affect how a student learns or behaves.  Rewards and consequences will be a factor.  As well as the class size. I must take into account the student-teacher relationship.  A student’s home life is also important.  Ability in academics is a determining factor.
Develop research questions.	How can we help improve the student/teacher relationship? What are ways to increase the student’s academic ability?  How can we identify struggling learners earlier?  How can we reward those for positive behavior?
Describe the intervention/innovation to be implemented.	Using data from behavior issues to classroom data we must identify if a relationship exists between a struggling learner and behavior? Also, how does SES affect behavior?  Once we use the data we must implement rewards for positive behavior and then also put into place a school wide reward/consequence plan.
Develop a timeline for implementation.	Review all referrals from the beginning of the school year for 4th grade.  May make a reference to all referrals school wide. Review data thru mid Nov of 2011.  Form a committee in Nov to develop a school wide plan and put into place after winter break.
Describe stakeholders.	Stakeholders are the 4th grade gen ed teachers, myself, and both principals, As well as students, parents, and the behavior committee. Counselor too.
Develop a list of resources to implement the plan.	Have students make rules that are consistent throughout the building.  Hold assemblies to honor Commended Cavaliers (those showing good behavior).  Have a monthly Commended Cavalier from each class.  Make consequences and rewards the same in each classroom.  Make sure each behavior offense is treated the same.  Have a teacher mentor for behavior students and for struggling students.  The counselor will form groups to work with these students.
Describe the data to be collected.	Student academic data will be collected to identify strugglers and to see if there is a correspondence with negative behavior. Referrals will be collected for repeated offenders. All behavior logs from 4th grade teachers will be reviewed for incidents and the person committing the incident.  Backgrounds of students will be examined.
Develop a data collection plan.	A journal and excel spreadsheet will be used to correlate backgrounds/academics to negative behavior.  This will help us intervene immediately and assist those who are constantly showing bad behavior.
Develop an analysis plan.	Comparisons from referrals at the beginning of the year will be used with the end of the year.  Academic performance will be analyzed also to see if improvements were made.
Carry out the plan.	Make sure each teacher is abiding by the plan and being consistent.
Report the results.	The committee will meet biweekly to make adjustments and to review results. Shared data and results will be given at a staff development at the end of May.

Chapter 2_ dana text

I wasn't familiar with the term action research before this class. However, now I am gaining perspective on action research, and I realize as teachers and administrators the process is used frequently. However, I am skeptical on just how much the WHOLE process is used or just steps of action research. Most decisions that occur at a school have had research done to determine the best solution.   As we learned in the text, action research is used in every degree of education. From school performance, to staff development action research exists. 

I highly recommend teachers and administrators who are not familiar with action research to become comfortable with it and implement action research in their school.

Using Action Research

Action Research is important for an administrator to take their leadership to the next level.  If seeking expertise or close to perfection then action research is the way to go.  Traditional Research does not allow for personnel inside the school to be directly involved, however action research calls for ownership from the staff and allows them to feel that they have some control.  Action research allows an administrator to lead by doing and be a role model, it allows the administrator to plan and schedule activities to slow down the hurried pace and become more involved.  Best practices will be a vital part of the school where action research is used.  Action research allows the personnel to data collect and question.  This research deals with real issues in the educational setting and has teachers and administrators discuss with each other to become problem solovers and generate change.  It allows to reflect and question and make changes all the time to become better or more efficient.

I am using action research now as I am getting masters after I have completed a Juris Doctorate program.  I am learning each day with my internship plan.  I attend district reading curriculum meetings where we share our best practices and discuss ways to effectively teach a concept.  I will be conducting an action research to address an issue at my school which deals with developing a better dismissal plan. I will have to collaborate with parents, community members, bus drivers, teachers, and students.  Using action research I will help facilitate our PLCs so that our small groups are focusing more on best practices and effective learning. 

Educational leaders can use blogs to share information and gain info from others in their profession. They may be able to problem solve more effectively or gain insight how to be a more effective leader.  They can try new leadership strategies, view situations, and make decisions in a different way.  Blogs allow leaders to share successes, ideas, or best practices at their school.  Leaders can discuss, learn, get news in the educational field, and be up to date with the latest practices.