Wednesday, July 21, 2010

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.

4 comments:

  1. Tiffany! I really like the steps that you chose to carry out your action research plan. I like how when you re-visited your action plan you decided to incorporate a time for literature in an effort for professional development. I feel that if you don't make the time to do so, then you won't make the time to do it. I also liked how you included a meeting so that all voices can be heard concerning the action plan, and then re-evaluated your plan before your action plan was completed. I think that all of your actions support your intended goal. I'm looking forward to following your blog and learning from the action research that you are conducting at your campus. Best of Luck.

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  2. The commitment you are making to spend time in the classrooms seems like a really important piece to your plan. I'm curious to find out what type of classroom evaluation forms you plan to use. Last year, in working with Susan as a district reading coach, we created a form for gathering data about classroom management that would seem objective to the teacher we were visiting. Part of it included two column notes that listed teacher "moves" and student response. The teachers seemed to reflect more on their classroom management strategies when they had the "facts" presented to them in this way. Just thought I would share in case it might be useful to you! (Susan made the form "pretty" and may still have it to share with you!)

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  3. Tiffany,
    Great action plan, I will be curious to watch how your plan unfolds since I will also be in your same position. Do you think you could somehow incorporate your weekly team meetings into this action plan? If you discover that you have teachers with similar classroom management concerns could this be discussed during team planning to help- all members improve the lesson?
    Why did you aonly want to target teachers that have been teaching less than 3 years? Do you think you might have a more experienced teacher with poor classroom management?

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  4. Tiffany,
    Great plan. In the observations and evaluations you are planning on doing, it is important to always try to point out any positive things you can find, even if it is hard to find them because they will make your department members more receptive to all the great advice you will have for them in the end. Great ideas! Good luck with this upcoming school year.

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