ACTION RESEARCH

Working Together For a Common Goal!

When I knew I was going to take a research class I was a little discourage because it came to my mind my old college days. To my surprise, I was impressed the way research has completely changed from a passive and boring role to an active an exciting project in which everybody has an important part. I loved that it promotes ownership among the parties involved.

I loved the book: Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools: 8 Steps From Analysis to Action.  It really helped me visualize the whole picture of what an action research project is .In this book they include setting the foundation, analyzing the data, developing deeper understanding, engaging in self-reflection, exploring programmatic patterns, determining direction, taking action and sustaining improvement (Harris, Edmonson, Combs, 2010). I would definitely recommend this book to the teachers when I go back and present my project.

The role that we play as administrators to promote actions research projects was an eye opener to me. It made me analyze what I have seen in these past years. Principals tend to fall into the daily routines and demands of their jobs, leaving little space to promote this type of inquiry. It makes me think: What should I do to keep this passion for change alive. I know that this is something positive for our schools and future leaders of tomorrow.

A great highlight is the knowledge I have acquired about the importance of reflection. That is something that not only administrators should do but everybody involved in the learning process. Reflection makes us to improve what we do.

I would like to share a quote about reflection that I really enjoy and I think it is so true.

“It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment”.
Marcus Tullius Cicero . (2001 – 2013) Brainy Quote http://www.brainyquote.com

The use of blogs is something that I really loved. I have seen it but never use them and that is something that definitely I am taking back to my classroom this coming school year. It will be a great writing tool and an awesome way to communicate with my students. I think that blogs promotes reflection as well which is so important in our days.

I will end this reflection by saying this is just the beginning of a great start.

Corrections To My Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template

Goal: How does the new intervention model helps closing the learning gap in the primary grades?

Action Step(s)	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Discuss possible research topics with site supervisor	Myself Raelyn Scroggin,Principal,site supervisor	July 24,2013	Intern Plan	Create an action research plan
2. Meet with interventionist, Kindergarten, and  1rst grade teachers to inform what they role will be in the action research	Myself Mrs. Marhloul, 1rst grade teacher Mrs. Garcia, Kindergarten teacher Interventionist	August 19,2013	Action research plan	Teachers will fill out comments cards on what they think about new intervention model.
2. Meet with Kindergarten, and  1rst grade teachers to discuss the ISIP reports and group students that will qualify to participate in the new intervention program	Myself Mrs. Marhloul, 1rst grade teacher Mrs. Garcia, Kindergarten teacher	September 13,2013	BOY ISIP assessment  reports, cut scores and students’ growth chart(created by me)	Use Monkey survey to collect  teachers feedback.
Conduct monthly meetings with participating teachers to track student growth. Discuss concerns and address them with site supervisor.	Myself Mrs. Marhloul, 1rst grade teacher Mrs. Garcia, Kindergarten teacher Interventionist Raelyn Scroggin,Principal,site supervisor	October 18,2013 November 15,2013 December 9,2013 January 13,2013	ISIP  monthly students’ growth report, progress reports, cut scores and students’ growth chart(created by me)	Site supervisor and teachers feedback, suggestions and students’ growth chart(created by me)
Conduct a meeting with teachers to collect MOY ISIP reports and Discuss and concerns. Provide any suggestions if necessary.	Myself Mrs. Marhloul, 1rst grade teacher Mrs. Garcia, Kindergarten teacher Interventionist Raelyn Scroggin,Principal,site supervisor	February 14,2014	MOY ISIP assessment  reports, cut scores and students’ growth chart(created by me)	Site supervisor and teachers feedback and suggestions and students’ growth chart(created by me)
Conduct monthly meetings with participating teachers to track student growth from MOY to EOY Discuss concerns and address them with site supervisor.	Myself Mrs. Marhloul, 1rst grade teacher Mrs. Garcia, Kindergarten teacher Interventionist Raelyn Scroggin,Principal,site supervisor	March 14,2014 April 11, 2014	ISIP  monthly students’ growth report, progress reports, cut scores	Site supervisor and teachers feedback and students’ growth chart(created by me)
Evaluate the data recollected and compare the growth in ISIP  from BOY to the EOY of participating students Analyze the data to confirm if the new intervention model was successful or not	Myself Mrs. Marhloul, 1rst grade teacher Mrs. Garcia, Kindergarten teacher Interventionist Raelyn Scroggin,Principal,site supervisor	May 16,2014	ISIP BOY AND EOY assessment reports	Use Monkey survey to collect  teachers feedback and compare result with the survey done at the beginning of the school year.

Comments Research Action Plan

Christal Bookhamer gave me ideas on how to collect feedback from the teachers every month. She suggested that I could use surveys or a creative way to collect qualitative data to measure the success of the mew intervention model. I thought it was a great idea and definitely I will put into place. I will have to create teacher friendly one so I don’t add more stress to them.

M Limbaugh agreed with Christal that I should used surveys or interviews to get the feedback from the teachers and that I should specify it on my plan. She also complemented that my plan was very specific to what I am going to research.

I love that both of my colleagues agreed on the same comments. Definitely they gave me great insight and I will proceed to make that addition to my plan.