My action research project

 

SCHOOL VISION: In partnership with parents and community, West Memorial Junior High seeks academic excellence for each student to pursue a productive and fulfilling life through a balanced curriculum aligned with quality instruction and assessment of achievement.

GOAL: In partnership with family-school-community, West Memorial Junior High will enable students to acquire a better real-life understanding of the science concepts required to increase 8^th grade Science TAKS Performance.

 

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESS-MENT	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assess-ments
Areas of weakness are defined	Gather TAKS scores from the last 3 years and segregate questions missed by objective	WMJH 8th grade TAKS scores from 2007 - 2010	Campus data coordinator	2 wks	Analyze and determine TAKS areas of focus	Revisions based on areas of weakness
Areas needing to be supplemented are identified	Review curriculum through interviews with 6th - 8th grade science teachers	6th – 8th grade science teachers	Science department chairman and science curriculum specialist	3 wks	Review findings with all science teachers and TAKS action team	Possible adjustments to curriculum
Parent/community activities are defined	Investigate successful parent/ community programs that can be utilized to help supplement science curriculum and involve parents	Internet resources, district resources, interview with personnel from campuses that have successful parent/community programs	TAKS Action Team	8 wks	Review findings with all science teachers and TAKS action team	Identification of specific activities to be implemented
Parent/community with student activities are defined	Development of activities based on weakest objectives, voids in curriculum, and suggested parent/ community activities	TAKS information collected from Data coordinator, data collected from science teachers, and information gather from TAKS action team's research   Contact Community/business leaders for participation in program	TAKS action team, science teachers, science curriculum specialist	4 wks	Review curriculum design for activities with all science teachers	Identification of specific activities to be implemented
Activity schedule will be defined	Develop detailed schedule of TAKS events including areas to focus on during science classes, after school activities and at home	TAKS action team will schedule afterschool and weekend TAKS activities based on campus and district calendar	TAKS action team	4 wks	Review district and campus calendar for any scheduling conflicts	Modify plan to resolve all calendar conflicts
Training for activities is defined	Training for science teachers and TAKS volunteers	Present material to be covered during TAKS activities	TAKS program director and instructional coach	1 wk	Assess for understand-ing among those being trained	TBD by effectiveness of training
Communication and tracking plan is defined	Communicate with parents about scheduled TAKS events	Communication will be made through local newspapers, school website, teacher website, school calendar, science teachers, letters sent home with students, school marquee, and telephone calls	School communication chairman, TAKS action team, science teachers, PTA	On-going	Review communication plans effective-ness based on responses by parents	TBD by Participation of parents
Program is implemented	After school weekly TAKS events   Monthly Family TAKS nights   Weekly take home TAKS Family/Student assignments   Saturday TAKS academy	Program of events   Material for TAKS activities	TAKS Program Director, Principal, Assistant Principal, Science Department chairman, TAKS action team, volunteers from staff and the community	On-going	Follow up with parents   Monitor student progress in classroom performance   Monitor student scores on benchmark test   Examine student scores on TAKS test at the end of the year	Number of participants will be examined   Ways to increase participation will be discussed and implemented   Changes to the program will also be based on student perform-ance in the class-room, on bench-mark test and on TAKS test

Importance of action research

This week I learned about the importance of action research. By listening to interviews, with three different administrators , I learned how districts are using action research to impact student performance. I learned the importance of looking at qualitative and quantitative data. With todays accountability pressures being put on educators I understand the need for action reseach on the part of teachers as well as administrators.

How educational leaders might use blogs

Blogs can be used by educational leaders to share ideas, reflect on practice, connect with other educational leaders and ask questions. It can also be a good way for principals to share their research with colleagues from all across the state and nation.

What I Have Learned So Far

Action Research is a valuable tool in education. It is a process in which a systematic, intentional study is performed in order to take action for change based on what is learned as a result of the study. Action Research, according to N. F. Dana (2009), allows professionals to seak out change and reflect on their practice by posing questions or "wonderings," collecting data to gain insights into their wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing findings with others. It is a great medium for learning and school improvement. In my use of Action Research, I hope to address problems in the classroom and the school to improve student outcomes. I will also use Action Research to reflect on my own practice and make changes based on new perceptions developed during my research. By utilizing Action Research I hope to grow professionally, become a role model for teachers and students, help best practices thrive at my school, and become proactive in my work as an educator. I realize the importance of this process and know that I will have to make an effort to create the time needed during the school week to carry out this process.