Revised Action Research Plan

School Vision: Smith Middle School provides an engaging and rigorous learning environment through the collaboration of the entire school community. Our supportive atmosphere promotes critical thinking and problem solving so students will be prepared to meet the demands of an ever-changing society. Goal - In what ways can I as a Campus Content Instruction Strategist support the teachers in my department in their classroom management such that student achievement and classroom discipline are improved? Action Steps Persons Responsible Timeline Start/End Needed Resources Evaluation Meet with the director of instruction to determine the need for action research in the area of classroom management. Use her input to help guide my research. Tiffany Lechinger August 6 · Action Research Plan · Previous SFA Data I will create a list of suggestions offered by my director of instruction to help guide my research. Meet individually with each of the teachers in the Social Studies Department who have been teaching less than three years to discuss classroom management concerns, ideas, and successes. Tiffany Lechinger August 9 – 20 List of questions to begin conversation and provide continuity in interviews Thorough documentation will be complete to show that all interviews have been conducted Conduct a minimum of three 20-30 minute classroom visits for each teacher Tiffany Lechinger August 24-27 Classroom Evaluation forms Classroom evaluation forms will be complete and provide adequate insight into the management strategies of each teacher. Gather literature regarding classroom management strategies/Attend classroom strategies seminars if possible/Interview administrators and effective classroom managers Tiffany Lechinger August 30-September 10 · Classroom Strategies Resources · Interview Questions · Funding for classroom management seminars I will have gathered a variety of strategies from multiple sources. Interview questions will be answered to provide insight into effective strategies. Meet with each teacher to discuss classroom observations and develop a plan for the implementation of strategies that might work in each individual situation Tiffany Lechinger Sept. 13-17 · Field notes · Classroom Strategies Resources · Plan of Action Template Each teacher will have met with me to develop a plan of action for the implementation of new classroom strategies. Plans will be complete. Work with teachers throughout the implementation process by visiting each classroom at least three times a week. Tiffany Lechinger September 20 – October 15 Classroom Strategies and Literature to support implementation Observations and field notes will indicate the implementation of strategies identified in each teacher’s plan of action. Talk informally with teachers to gather feedback about the process. Record ideas and concerns. Tiffany Lechinger September 20 – October 15 Journal of teacher feedback Journal will list the feedback of each individual teacher. Conduct a meeting with all teachers participating in the study and provide them with the opportunity to voice their concerns, successes, and ideas. Tiffany Lechinger October 6 Questions to prompt discussion I will compile a list of concerns, ideas, and successes for later analysis. Re-evaluate to see where changes need to be made Tiffany Lechinger October 11-15 · Field Notes · Classroom Strategies Literature and Research An analysis of the progress of each teacher will include suggestions for improvement and areas where I might need to offer more support. Compare SFA data and discipline referral reports to field notes and observations. Tiffany Lechinger End of each 6 weeks · SFA Data · Discipline Referral Data · Field Notes A comparison report will be completed to determine the effect of improved classroom strategies on SFA scores and discipline referral data.

Action Research Plan

Goal - In what ways can I as a Campus Content Instruction Strategist support the teachers in my department in their classroom management such that student achievement and classroom discipline are improved? Action Steps Persons Responsible Timeline Start/End Needed Resources Evaluation Meet with the director of instruction to determine the need for action research in the area of classroom management. Use her input to help guide my research. Tiffany Lechinger August 6 · Action Research Plan · Previous SFA Data I will create a list of suggestions offered by my director of instruction to help guide my research. Meet individually with each of the teachers in the Social Studies Department who have been teaching less than three years to discuss classroom management concerns, ideas, and successes. Tiffany Lechinger August 9 – 20 List of questions to begin conversation and provide continuity in interviews Thorough documentation will be complete to show that all interviews have been conducted Conduct a minimum of three 20-30 minute classroom visits for each teacher Tiffany Lechinger August 24-27 Classroom Evaluation forms Classroom evaluation forms will be complete and provide adequate insight into the management strategies of each teacher. Gather literature regarding classroom management strategies/Attend classroom strategies seminars if possible/Interview administrators and effective classroom managers Tiffany Lechinger August 30-September 10 · Classroom Strategies Resources · Interview Questions · Funding for classroom management seminars I will have gathered a variety of strategies from multiple sources. Interview questions will be answered to provide insight into effective strategies. Meet with each teacher to discuss classroom observations and develop a plan for the implementation of strategies that might work in each individual situation Tiffany Lechinger Sept. 13-17 · Field notes · Classroom Strategies Resources · Plan of Action Template Each teacher will have met with me to develop a plan of action for the implementation of new classroom strategies. Plans will be complete. Work with teachers throughout the implementation process by visiting each classroom at least three times a week. Tiffany Lechinger September 20 – October 15 Classroom Strategies and Literature to support implementation Observations and field notes will indicate the implementation of strategies identified in each teacher’s plan of action. Talk informally with teachers to gather feedback about the process. Record ideas and concerns. Tiffany Lechinger September 20 – October 15 Journal of teacher feedback Journal will list the feedback of each individual teacher. Conduct a meeting with all teachers participating in the study and provide them with the opportunity to voice their concerns, successes, and ideas. Tiffany Lechinger October 6 Questions to prompt discussion I will compile a list of concerns, ideas, and successes for later analysis. Re-evaluate to see where changes need to be made Tiffany Lechinger October 11-15 · Field Notes · Classroom Strategies Literature and Research An analysis of the progress of each teacher will include suggestions for improvement and areas where I might need to offer more support. Compare SFA data and discipline referral reports to field notes and observations. Tiffany Lechinger End of each 6 weeks · SFA Data · Discipline Referral Data · Field Notes A comparison report will be completed to determine the effect of improved classroom strategies on SFA scores and discipline referral data.

Week 2 Reflection

Dr. Kirk Lewis, the superintendent of the Pasadena School District, provided great insight into action research. His school district was provided with a research grant that they have used to focus on ninth graders...their critical thinking skills and their graduation rates. This research has given the Pasadena School District insight into the effectiveness of the delivery of instruction of their teachers. However, Dr. Lewis was quick to point out that researchers should focus on topics that directly pertain to their classrooms and schools. In this way, researchers will have a vested interest in their topic of study. He suggested that research should be used to provide insight that will have practical application in schools and classrooms.

Educators and Blogging

Blogs can be a great way for teachers to reflect on new ideas and strategies as well as classroom struggles and successes. In addition, blogging helps to create a community among educators and provides them with support and suggestions that might not have been available otherwise. Because blogging attracts people from around the globe, teachers can now have access to resources and ideas that might not have been available to them in the past.

Action Research

Action research is an intentional type of wondering where administrators or teachers research a thought, question, or idea with a plan to implement its findings. It is different than the traditional professional development where teachers and administrators simply soak up knowledge and information with little follow-up. Instead, action research encourages teacher and administrator buy-in and allows for action based on a school's specific need. Action research provides teachers and faculty members, those actually working with students on a daily basis, the opportunity to gather information that is directly applicable to their specific situation. It is different than traditional research in that the intended audience is teachers and administrators as opposed to academic scholars who do not necessarily spend time in a classroom.

There are several benefits to action research over traditional research. First, teachers are more likely to have "buy-in" if they feel they have a voice in the research. Teachers and administrators who actually participate in the research can see first-hand where there is need for improvement. It is also more likely that teachers will participate in new classroom strategies and ideas if they feel that the research applies to them. In addition, action research is school and classroom specific. Information is gathered from the schools and classrooms that will later be directly affected. Finally, action research allows teachers to implement new teaching strategies or programs that will best meet the needs of their individual learners. Action research is clearly an excellent way for teachers and administrators to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of their learning environment and then apply changes that are best tailored for their schools and students.

I hope to use action research to identify the benefits of differentiated instruction. While differentiated instruction is great in theory, I would like to research to determine whether it is really more effective than following a more traditional approach and placing students in classes that are leveled. I would also like to use action research to examine whether students become better problem solvers and critical thinkers in a class where a teacher practices differentiated instruction.