Action Research Plan- Week 3

Action Planning Template
Goal: The goal of my action research is to discover any correlation between implementing early intervention with at-risk students academic achievement.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Identify students that are at-risk of not meeting passing standard on STAAR.	Myself	August 2013	STAAR results from 2012-2013 school year	An analysis of STAAR data from previous years will indicate students who have not met passing standard.
2. Review STAAR results to identify specific objectives the students will address in tutoring.	Myself	August 2013	2013 STAAR results	Data analysis of STAAR performance will specify at-risk students failed objectives.
3. Strategize student plan with classroom teacher.	3-5 Classroom teachers and myself	August 2013	STAAR objective breakdown	Student trends will be identified by objective break down of STAAR and a plan will be created that will include myself and classroom teachers. (Encore time)
4. Administration of district benchmarks	3-5 classroom teachers	2013-2014	District benchmark	Analysis of student growth will be charted, as well as, goal setting for next administration of test.
5. Administration of STAAR test	3-5classroom teachers	Spring 2014	STAAR	Examination of at-risk student results to identify growth.
6. Reflection of results presented to administration then staff.	Kimmie Ethridge Linda Ruhs Granger Staff Myself	End of Year 2014	2014 STAAR results	Presentation of data gathered and results of student achievement.

Week 2 Reflection

As I begin to really focus in on my action research and decide between 2 very interesting topics I see the importance and the application seems much more doable. Each year our district mandates that each campus create a "Problem of Practice", this is something that the campus has identified as an area for improvement. I now know it to be action research. I'm excited that I do actually know how to do this and the task no longer seems as daunting.

Educational Leaders Using Blogs

Blogs are an extremely useful publication of information to a broad audience. Blogs allow for sharing globally and reporting action research findings.
As an administrator you could also use blogs as a modern day newsletter. Enabling followers and comments allows the administrator to iinteract live with the school community. In addition to providing current news to the community the administrator could create a blog to interact with the students in addition.

Thoughts on Action Research

Action research is not necessarily a new concept, however its utilization in an educational setting is quite innovative. The thought that the core of the research you gather as a leader is centered around a topic you intend to improve is provocative. As educators we are continually implementing research based practices, so why not you be the one to do the research rather than relying on researchers that are removed from the campus setting. As the administrator on campus you are the leader, you are driving the vehicle for change. We are continually telling students to lead by example, so what better opportunity.
Through my participation in Professional Learning Communities, or PLC's I have partaken in action research without my realizing. The collaboration of teachers in the communities allow for reflection and correlations to be made between best practice and student achievement.
Action research provides opportunity for the leader to be transparent to their followers. Often leaders feel the need to have all the answers; when in all actuality that is impossible. With that being said, using reflection to call notice to an area of improvement then asking all members to walk along aside you as you delve deeper into the matter is extremely powerful.
I plan to use action research as I begin to identify at risk students and data their track progress. This will allow me to see instruction that is effective and provide feedback to their classroom teachers so that progress will continue to be made in the general education setting as well.