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.