Week 3 Reflection

Throughout the week I have been able to come up with a more complete plan for my action research project. I know that I want to set up a Google site for sharing and collaboration throughout the entire project. I have set up the first set of meetings with the campus administration, site based decision making committee, grade levels as well as the monthly website training dates. I am waiting for the PTA representative to contact me to confirm my date with them. I have asked for 15 minutes at the open house PTA meeting to discuss my plan with parents. I am going to be working on what questions I want to use in the surveys as well as getting the Google site set up. Because administrators will be in meetings almost all week, it is going to be a challenge to meet with my site mentor in person.

Harmony Elementary Action Research Plan

Harmony Elementary Plan of Action

By: Marguerite Lowak ET 8015

Harmony Mission/Vision Statement:

Our belief is that all children can learn in the learning environment established for them by all our staff and they will be successful, responsible, and productive citizens. In the learning environment at Harmony each child has the opportunity to achieve at his/her true academic potential by participating in a well rounded curriculum. The curriculum and programs not only address academic needs, but social awareness, positive self worth, and leadership skills that will be with them throughout their formative years.

Action Research Statement and Goals:

All classroom teachers will work on the creation of a classroom web page. Teachers will have their web pages live by the end of the school year. Classroom pages will enhance parent/teacher/student communication as well as improve academic achievement in the area of Mathematics. Through surveys, parent conferences, and test data, parent communication and math scores are the two areas in need of improvement. Campus and teacher websites can help target both of these areas. Administrative and teachers sites will prove a more transparent look into school happenings. Websites that have links to math sites, podcasts, vodcasts will allow parent to help their students at home.

The following questions will be investigated:

What part does a classroom website play in regards to communication with parents?

How are parents using the campus website, and how is it affecting communication.

What are students mainly using the campus or teacher website for, and has it improved communication with campus staff?

How is the classroom website helping improve academic achievement.

Narrative:

For the past three years Harmony Elementary has found itself near to low performing in the area of mathematics. The administrative team worked together with teachers to devise a plan of action. Unfortunately this year they found themselves in the same situation, but their scores came in even lower than last year’s scores. After reviewing the scores, teachers will work with campus administration as well as district technology specialist to approach improving scores from many different avenues. The ultimate goal is to move the campus toward an exemplary status.

ISTE Standards: TF-I.A, TF‐I.2, TF‐I.B, TF‐II.A, TF‐II.F, TF‐III.A, TF‐IV.B, TF‐V.C, TF‐V.D, TF‐VII.A, TF‐VIII.C,

Activities/Action Steps Designed to Achieve the Objectives	Resources/ Research Tools needed for Gathering Data	Timeline for Completion	Person(s) Responsible	Assessment/Evaluation Instrument
1. Meet with Site Based Decision Making Committee to help set goals for teacher/campus/ administrative websites Examining the work	Information on current websites/wiki’s, Research on how websites improve classroom communication and student achievement	August 19, 2010	Site Based Decision Making Committee	Vote taken during meeting as well as collaborative information on Google Doc.
2. Initial set up of new classroom website where teachers are expected to enter their personal information and complete the class description. Analyzing data	School Fusion teacher set up documents, laptops,	First Thursday of each month	Marguerite Lowak	Teachers will complete a Google survey based on wants and needs for classroom website content and training
3. Acceptable Use and Web Publishing Policy training for teachers and staff.	East Central ISD Acceptable Use Policy and Web Publishing Policy, Power point presentation	Thursday August 19, 20010	Marguerite Lowak	Grade level T chart quiz, Teacher Handbook signature page
4. Meet with parents, students, teachers, administrators at the PTA meeting to discuss Acceptable Use Policy, and website wants and needs in regards to teacher/campus websites. (Math Links to help improve student achievement) Develop a deeper understanding	Hard copies of the Acceptable Use Policy and Web Publishing Policy, links to the information on district website, 2009 TAKS Math data, list of campus initiatives for math	First campus PTA meeting.	Marguerite Lowak, Debbie Grams, Lalli Carr	Parent/student Google survey, website hit counter
5. Monthly meetings to continue development of teacher and administrative sites. Reflect on successes/failures and improvements that need to be made. Engaging in Self-Reflection, Exploring Programmatic Patterns, Determining direction	School Fusion links for teachers. Training laptops. Testing results for the 6 weeks	First Thursday of each month	Marguerite Lowak, Debbie Grams, Lalli Carr, teachers, staff	Teachers will complete a Google survey based on wants and needs for classroom website content and training. Parent/student Google survey, website hit counter
6. Reconvene with Site Based Committee Take action for school improvement, Determine direction, Sustaining improvement	Notes from teacher monthly meetings, review of teacher/admin. Web sites, testing results, teacher and parent survey results	Date to be determined	Marguerite Lowak, Debbie Grams, Lalli Carr	Teachers will complete a Google survey based on wants and needs for classroom website content and training. Parent/student Google survey, website hit counter, Test results

Action Research Topic and Questions

According to teachers, parents and district staff, communication within schools and across the district needs to improve. District and campus information needs to be up-to-date and transparent. The best way distribute is through district, campus and classroom websites. All classroom teachers will work on the creation of a classroom web page. Teachers will have their web pages live by the end of the school year. Classroom pages will enhance parent/teacher/student communication as well as improve academic achievement.


The following questions will be investigated:
What part does a classroom website play in regards to communication with parents?

How are parents using the campus website, and how is it affecting communication.

What are students mainly using the campus or teacher website for, and has it improved communication with campus staff?

How is the classroom website helping improve academic achievement.

Action Research: 9 Major Wanderings, Week 2

Teachers and administrators face many challenges both in and outside of the classroom. With the pressure that states and the federal government are putting on teachers and principals to raise students’ test scores, it is no wonder principals and teachers are embarking on a journey to improve school performance while raising student achievement. But student achievement is not just going to increase because teachers have gathered data and shared it with counselors, colleagues and administrative staff. In order for real improvement to be made, principals must use reflective practices as well as engage in action research projects. There are nine major areas that Dana describes as major wonderings of many school leaders: Staff Development, Curriculum development, Individual teacher(s), Individual student(s), School culture/community, Leadership, Management, School performance, and Social justice or equity issues. Principals can choose to engage in action research projects on their own, or they can involve staff, students, and parents. Active research needs to be practical and applicable to specific situations. Project data must be reviewed, analyzed and implemented within a week or two. I also believe that principals need play less of a manager role and more of a leadership roll. Leadership by example is key.

Administrator Inquiry

Conducting research is what some people consider boring, unnecessary, and a waste of time. But action research is nothing of the sort. Action research is a method that allows teachers and principals to have a voice in the research process allowing for real change to take place. So many times we try to improve student performance by focusing only on the student. We test them, re-teach, retest and evaluate student progress. What doesn’t happen during this method of research is studying the teacher’s practices. Action research was originally developed to help improve teaching and learning, but recently administrators and school leaders have started using it as a way to improve schools. While engaging in action research, administrators use the same process of inquiry, developing understanding, and completing and sharing their findings that teachers would. When administrators use this method, it is sometimes called administrator inquiry instead of action research. It is important for principals to see how “administrator inquiry is a part of, not apart from,” the work they do. Weather it is called administrator inquiry or action research, this process of action must begin with the principal. So many times principals get tangled up in the everyday demands of their job, and never take time to reflect on their own practices as the “head learner” of the school (Dana, 2008). Administrators can use action research as a professional development tool since it is “long-term, planned, and job-embedded; focuses on student achievement, supports reflective practice; and provides opportunities to work, discuss and solve problems with peers (Sparks 2002). If principals would engage in action research, they could see an improvement in teaching, learning and school climate. As a principal I would use action research with my staff as a unit of study or professional development. Next I would create a professional learning community for each grade level. While teachers are working on improving teaching and learning, as principal I would implement administrator inquiry into all aspects of my job so I can lead through example.


Blogs in Education

Blogs in education are becoming a more effective way to communicating among school administration and staff. Educators can share important information as well as share ideas and personal opinions. Administrators can gather information quickly through the commenting area.The ability to have members subscribe through an RSS feed offers up many other possibilities.