Draft Action Research Project Report

Click the link to download the draft for my action research report.

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cL7N5FVg7Ed7SQoTDywo_XpdSP88UAu6P-cexmyGRW8/edit

Action Reseach Plan: Increasing Literacy

Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template
Goal:  Illiteracy is a major problem among our schools, and illiteracy rates are becoming increasingly unacceptable. How can Law Elementary, and ultimately Houston I.S.D, ensure that each child has mastered what they need to know to the point that they can be promoted and can successfully complete the next grade level? How can literacy improve across the district?
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End		Needed Resources	Evaluation
Speak with principal to discuss areas that need action research on our campus “Examining the work: Setting the foundation”	Shalesha Smith	November 2011		Three proposed research topics	This allowed me to choose a research topic that was going to be the most beneficial for our school.
Trigger discussions on reading and writing strategies  “Examining the work: Setting the foundation”	Shalesha Smith Grade level chairs	June 2012		Campus content area specialists and teacher feedback and suggestions	This step will allow me to take notes and evaluate the findings of other colleagues and gather feedback to assist with my research.
Evaluate/analyze reading and writing curriculum and programs “Analyzing Data” “Exploring Programmatic Patterns”	Shalesha Smith Principal	June 2012		Access to various information on reading and writing programs over a 8 year period including different curriculums and program components Campus content specialists	Evaluating the district curriculum and school literacy programs will help with determining whether what we are/have been using is sufficient enough in teaching our struggling readers and writers.
Identify teacher leaders who can provide classroom demonstrations and modeling for their peers and create opportunities for classroom visits to observe “Developing deeper understanding”	Shalesha Smith Principal	August 2012		Possible extra duty pay Offer time to meet during planning time Substitutes	This will allow teachers to learn from colleagues who have mastered teaching reading and writing. Student success will increase when the teacher is comfortable with teaching the subject successfully.
Identify students below their grade level in reading and language “Developing deeper understanding”	Shalesha Smith Principal	August 2012		Access to TAKS and Stanford scores	This will allow teachers to group students according to their skill levels, which will help the teacher differentiate her instruction accordingly.
Determine whether I have the skills to successfully complete this plan. “Engage in self reflection”	Shalesha Smith	March 2011			Self reflection will allow me to determine if I will need any additional help to complete the plan. If so, this is my opportunity to seek the support.
Create an effective progress monitoring intervention method that will measure student growth “Determining direction” “Taking action for school improvement”	Shalesha Smith Principal Teachers	June 2012		Funds Additional support from district interventionists	This will allow teachers to successfully track student progress and determine where students may need additional help and allow them to receive assistance from an intervention specialist.
Implement school writing plan/sequence and assist teachers with putting writing practices into action “Determining direction” “Taking action for school improvement”	Shalesha Smith All teachers	December 2012		Empowering Writers Writing resources	This will allow students to become familiar with writing at an early age instead of being introduced to it in 4th grade when they are tested. This will prepare students to be ready to write ad make them more comfortable with the process.
School budgets will support the development of classroom libraries and the school library “Determining direction” “Taking action for school improvement”	Shalesha Smith Principal	December 2012		Funds	This will expose students to many genres and levels of books.
Implement the Accelerated Reader program and offer incentives to students  “Determining direction” “Taking action for school improvement”	Shalesha Smith Literacy enrichment teacher- Tracy Bell	December 2012		Funds for new library books and AR program	This will allow students to take responsibility for their reading and earn rewards while doing so.
Plan and implement literacy centers that include reading, writing and independent practice activities “Determining direction” “Taking action for school improvement”	Shalesha Smith	August 2012		Various materials for centers	This step will offer students a chance to learn from their peers in a group setting and will enable low performers to learn in a non-traditional, fun way.
Offer support to parents who have children who read below level. Such support will include giving them additional materials, information, extra instructional time for students  (tutorials) and special program options (pull outs) “Sustaining improvement”	Shalesha Smith Principal	Ongoing			This will make sure that students and parents are receiving additional help at home and will get the parents involved with their child’s learning.
Teachers will demonstrate an ongoing effort to teach vocabulary, no matter their subject area “Sustaining improvement”	Shalesha Smith All teachers	Ongoing		Funds for purchasing items for the word wall, flash cards and visuals for the classroom	Continuously teaching vocabulary/suffixes and prefixes at all grade levels and subject areas will broaden students’ language and will assist with being able determine unknown words while reading.
Research literacy professional development  opportunities “Sustaining improvement”	Shalesha Smith	Ongoing	HISD PD Catalog Various PD Web sites outside of the district Funds		More literacy PD opportunities will increase teachers’ knowledge about how to teach reading and writing to struggling students.

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Week 2 Recap

Week two was packed with information that helped me understand action research just a little more. It started with the three interviews. They all spoke highly of action research and agreed that it must be used to promote student achievement. They all also talked about data as an important step in research. Data, I believe, must first be analyzed before diving deep into the plan. The researcher needs to know which way to steer their research in order to help the organization. Disaggregating data will assist the researcher in selecting the proper route to take when performing their research.

Week two’s readings were also very helpful in understanding action research. The nine passions that Dana elaborated on in her book suggested different areas in which someone can do research. Many of the areas relate to one another, so a person might dive into more than one passion while researching. What I learned from the Dana reading is that leaders are in control of growth and development. This goes for themselves and the organization. However, they must make sure that everyone else is striving to reach the same goals.  

I also met with my site supervisor this week to discuss three proposed research topics. I enjoyed meeting with her because she opened my eyes to many things and gave me insight on some of the district's plans for research. Together, we agreed that the most beneficial research that I can do for our school is researching the rising rates of illiteracy. This has been a hot topic in education for the past few years, so I am excited to start using what I have learned to develop an action research plan for this area of concern.  

Educational Leaders Can Use Blogs, Too!

Below is a list of ways that educational leaders can use blogs:

1. Source of continued learning- Leaders can post different videos and articles highlighting effective classroom management techniques, lesson planning strategies and ways of keeping students' attention by implementing rigor and relevance throughout lessons.

2. Outlet for discussion- Leaders can pose questions on their blogs and provide a new, interactive way for teachers/staff to communicate with one another.

3. Communication tool- Blogs are a great way to communicate with others and get feedback. Leaders can use blogs in place of traditional email or newsletters to relay information to teachers and parents.

What is Action Research, Anyway?

I've learned that action research is a powerful tool that individuals can use to collectively and collaboratively reflect on changes and improvements that need to be made within an organization. It is “engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry.” (Dana, 2009)

It can improve the way issues are addressed and how problems are solved. Action research allows room for you to work with others as you strive toward a common goal. It's an interactive way of improving your practice and professionalism. You may want to change your way of leading or your way of doing things. Action research makes this possible and ensures that your new initiatives are effective. It offers ways of gathering and sorting out information, which leads to implementing practical and logical changes for the organization.

Action research is a commitment and requires the researcher to set aside time for research and reflection. The researcher must carefully monitor to make sure that what has been planned actually works. If it’s not working, they can always go back and modify their action plan. To ensure a successful research plan, the researcher must define the problem, research the problem, ask for help from those directly involved, create a plan to solve the problem, act on the plan, and then reflect on the outcomes. After all of this, the researcher should make the necessary changes that will benefit the organization and its stakeholders.

Reference: Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.