Action Research Project Summary

My action research project is coming along since its creation.  I have created the Teacher Interview Questionnaire Guide, Student Vocabulary Assessment, and Checklist.  I completed these prior to school starting. 

 

When school started I gave the teachers time to make connections with their students and build relationships.  I also waited until the enrollment of students had been finalized.  We had students that did not show up for school this year and had not had their school records requested for a transfer.  We had a new student added to 2^nd grade and one transferred out to another campus.   I had to change the start date due to these accommodations. 

I started the project the 3^rd week of school.  I have reduced the grade levels used in my project to just 2^nd grade as discussed with my principal.  We found when discussing the research project that it would inflict too much on the other grade level teachers at this time as there are district changes that are being asked of them.  Since I am a 2^nd grade teacher and the grade level leader, I will conduct the research project with 2^nd grade students only. 

Since conducting the project, the second grade students have had vocabulary introduced to them without using visuals.  It has been a struggle as it is showing on their class work, understanding, and retention of the vocabulary information.  We are making sure this does not reflect on their recorded grades as these are separate vocabulary words than the one used with their Basel readers.

Web Conference Reflection EDLD 5326

I have attended most of the web conferences offered in each class.  If I happen to miss one I always go back and read and listen to the web conference.  I have learned so much attending the conferences.  I realize how much I do not know or I had forgotten to complete. 

Attending the web conferences for EDLD 5326 has been informative with additional information other than the course work itself.  I attended the last conference wanting to know the answers to the mid-term exam, but found out so much more.  I really enjoyed the sharing of various parent/school community projects.   I was glad to hear that so many schools participate in providing students with food to take home.  My campus does this too. 

I am thankful we have the opportunity to participate in wed conferences as it helps to share ideas and help fellow leaders when they do not understand.  I really enjoy our professors, as they calm us and help clear up any questions.  I can really feel their support and wanting to help us succeed as leaders.   

Action Research Plan

Action Research Planning

SCHOOL VISION: Sam Houston Elementary along with parents and the community will provide a rigorous and relevant bi-literate and bilingual curriculum within a safe and nurturing environment which enhances learning for all students.

GOAL:  Visual Teaching Tools in the Classroom: Do Visual Aids Effect a Student’s Learning 

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments
Create a goal for an action research project	Setting Foundation, Develop action research questions	Reflection Journal	Hollye Usery,     Vice Principal	June 11, 2012 – June 18, 2012	Reflection Journal
Gather and analyze data and  literature	Discuss with principal, read literature and review data	Reflection Journal, Computer, Copies of data and literature	Hollye Usery,      Vice Principal	June 18, 2012 – July 22, 2012	Reflection Journal
Analyze information collected to create questions.	Develop question to be answered by the action research process	Reflection Journal, Computer, Literature	Hollye Usery	June 15, 2012 -  July 22, 2012	Reflection Journal
Develop survey question, checklist, student assessments	Read literature for understanding, create survey questions, checklist, start student assessments	Copies of literature, computer, Reflection Journal	Hollye Usery	July 25, 2012 -   August 24, 2012	Reflection Journal
Introduce research to grade level teachers involved	Discuss the process, expectations, and expected outcomes, schedule of research, curriculum	Reflection Journal, Samples of survey questions, checklist, student assessments, schedule, grade level curriculum	Hollye Usery, Vice Principal, Kinder Teacher,  1st Grade Teacher, 2nd Grade Teacher	August 22, 2012- August 24, 2012	Reflection Journal
Finalize schedule with teachers to conduct research	Discuss schedule, visuals used and not used, curriculum	Reflection Journal, Schedule, visuals, curriculum	Hollye Usery, Vice Principal, Kinder Teacher, 1st Grade Teacher, 2nd Grade Teacher	August 29, 2012 – August 31, 2012	Reflection Journal
Students taught without/with visual aids	Teach lesson without visual aids, assess – Teach lesson with visual aids, assess	Reflection Journal, grade level lessons, visuals, observation notes	Hollye Usery, Kinder Teacher, 1st Grade Teacher, 2nd Grade Teacher	Sept. 4, 2012 – Nov. 9, 2012	Reflection Journal, Observation notes
Survey Teachers, Students	Discuss and survey teachers, students of their feelings of using visuals and not using visuals during a lesson	Reflection Journal, Survey Questions for teachers and students	Hollye Usery, Kinder Teacher, 1st Grade Teacher, 2nd Grade Teacher	Nov. 26, 2012 – Nov. 30, 2012	Reflection Journal, Survey Questions
Analyze data collected, understand for possible solutions	Understanding the outcome	Reflection Journal, Computer	Hollye Usery, Vice Principal	Dec. 17, 2012 -  Jan. 31, 2013	Reflection Journal, Survey Questions completed by teachers and students
Reflection on journal entries written during project	Engage in self-reflection of action research project	Reflection Journal	Hollye Usery	June 11, 2012 – Feb. 21, 2013	Reflection on journal entries, review data gathered from action research project
Examine limitations and solutions	Exploring problems and discussing it with internship supervisor	Reflection Journal	Hollye Usery, Vice Principal, Principal	June 14, 2012 – May 24, 2013	Reflection Journal
Evaluate the direction of the research plan	Determine direction or redirection of plan	Reflection Journal, data	Hollye Usery, Vice Principal	June 11, 2012 – May 24, 2013	Reflection Journal, Data
School Improvement Plan	Develop a School Improvement Plan	Data, Reflection Journal	Hollye Usery, Vice Principal	Jan 31, 2013 – May 24, 2013	Reflection Journal, Quantitative Data
Sharing findings and Improvements	Share results to administration and campus teachers	Reflection Journal, Data, SIP	Hollye Usery, Vice Principal, Principal	May 24, 2012 - June 7, 2013	Reflection Journal, Quantitative Data