An Update.

I love the accountability from my Action Research Plan.  While I had never mapped out a plan of action like this, it sure is making me be very intentional with my planning.  Over the summer I was able to get started.  Upon receiving the data from the STAAR test, I was able to start studying my students and start looking at what specific skills I needed to address with them.  I highlighted my students that were within the range I had decided upon - within 5 questions of scoring advanced on the test.  This was quite a number of students.  I then started looking at the standards that they missed just a couple of questions on.  I have been able to start grouping them by standards and by class (since I have 4 classes).  Since I do more strategy groups instead of guided reading at the 5th grade level, I have been working with students based on the area that I am teaching in class.  I am making progress with getting my schedules all worked out.  I can say that have I successfully been able to meet with a small group of students each day, I do however need to continue to tweak my schedule so I can get another group in my time with each class. 

I have been able to pull more resources also.  I have been using a variety of resources and books to work with the students so far.  It has been so very helpful to have the standards of each student laid out for me.  I have used a couple of "new to me" resources with my small groups this year.  I am hoping that with the integration of these new resources, I will be able to meet their specific reading comprehension needs. 

I am still pulling all my research together, however I have already found many resources and research that proves that small group targeted instruction is the best way to meet the specific needs of each student.  While it is difficult to constantly be switching these groups based on standards, I feel that it best maximizes my time to meet the students where they are.  

I am anxious to see how the strategy groups improve scores.  Our first real test won’t be until our “Winter Staminia” when we give a STAAR like benchmark.  I am hoping the test will give me even more data to continue to work with and allow me to make changes I see fit based on the data.

Week 5: A Reflection

As I reflect back on this course, I am reminded of a few significant moments of clarity that I believe will prove applicable in my career.  Each one has taught me something new that I hope will serve me as I continue my journey to becoming an education leader.

When I began this course, I was unfamiliar with the practice of action research.  Through the readings, web conferences, and videos, I have learned in depth what it means to conduct an action research study and its practical application to a campus.  One word used multiple times in Leading with Passion and Knowledge to describe action research is “intentional.”  This word, more than others, helps define action research – there has to be an end in mind and a goal that the researcher is working towards.  The principal researcher must have in mind their school community when developing a detailed plan as well as what they want to achieve through the research and findings. 

The use of a blog has been revolutionary to me through this course.  I have been a personal blogger for years, documenting the events of our family.  Until this class, I had never thought of using a blog to communicate with other educational leaders and to follow their wonderings and learnings through the use of a blog.  I am excited about the next few months as I follow my classmates as they learn through their action research plan and to share my findings and to get comments through my blog.  My goal is to establish myself as a thought leader in the education field, specifically targeted around the findings from my action research plan.

The idea of creating a hypothesis for my research plan, which will span the next 18 months, was an activity that really caused me dig deep.  I wanted to create a plan that I knew would be feasible, as well as productive and very beneficial to my students and aligned with my campus’ goals.  I enjoyed the process of brainstorming with a few ideas and meeting with my site supervisor to review and discuss these plans. I have so much to learn from my administration and I just soak up their knowledge when we sit down and talk.  Through our regular communication, I have gained knowledge in how to better select a research project as well as how to use our campus data to create a wondering and to use the data to help me better understand our students.

In the Week 5 video, Dr. Jenkins said we are to be “servant leaders” with the school’s best interest in mind at all times.  I was taken back by this statement.  At times we (teachers, staff members, and even administrators) need the reminder that we are to be school-minded and that every decision we make should benefit the school as a whole and the students at the school.  We at times are tempted to make the choice that is easiest or most comfortable, and I believe It is a good reminder that we are to serve our schools and have them at the fore front of all our decisions.

Action research is crucial form of researching.  One that incorporates four main steps:  posing a question, analyzing data, making changes based on the data, and sharing findings with others.  These steps give the researcher the accountability to “systematically and intentionally study one’s profession.” (Dana, 2009)

As I continue through my journey of becoming an administrator, I know that the process of action research will help me to be better equipped to lead a school.  The process of studying data and making changes is one that I will be able to use in all areas as I continue to work through my graduate courses.

Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal:  Does targeted small group instruction improve the standardized testing results of a specific group of students?  Does individualized small group instruction improve my advanced test scores?
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Evaluate students’ test results from 4th grade	Joanna McCord (use Instructional Coach to analyze data together)	Before school starts in Aug. 2013	STAAR test results from 4th grade (April 2013)	Through the evaluating of the STAAR results from this school year, I will be able to identify the group of students I will target.
Place students into small groups based on the areas they need specific instruction and determine the specific group I will be collecting data on (in each section)	Joanna McCord	September 2013	STAAR test results from 4th grade (April 2013) – look at standard/objective breakdown for each student determine their area of weakness	I will know that this step is complete when I have a group of students – all with like instructional needs and are in my target range. (in each class that I teach)
Create a scope and sequence of instruction that meets the specific needs of each group	Joanna McCord and Instructional Coach	Before school starts in August 2013 and weekly during the school year	Results from I-Station and DRA Resutls from STAAR test that show the SE that each student struggled with Reading curriculum from district	I will know that this step has been completed when I have a guide to follow during my small group instruction specific to my targeted groups
Implement small group reading instruction schedule for each class	Joanna McCord	September 2013	Class schedule and class lists and data from the first 2 action steps	Classroom and small group observation
Meet with targeted group of students (in each class) 3-4 times a week using individualized instruction	Joanna McCord	September 2013 – May 2014	Scope and sequence that I created Teaching materials – Comprehension Toolkit, IStation lessons, guided reading books	Use formative and informative assessments to monitor progress
Create higher level questions and reading activities for target students to use during independent work time	Joanna McCord	September 2013 – May 2014	I-Station results and activities created for each student Stephanie Harvey’s Comprehension Intervention resource based on the Comprehension Toolkit	Use formative assessments to track students’ progress
Compare Data	Joanna McCord	April 2014	2013-2014 STAAR results	I will look at the new STAAR results and see if there was any change in my students’ scores
Reflection	Joanna McCord	April 2014	Data collected	I will reflect on my data and determine what was beneficial to continue for the following year and what changes need to be made.

Action Research Project Process Overview
 SETTING THE FOUNDATION: Through collaboration with my principal and campus instruction coach, the issue of student performance in reading in regards to advanced scores on the STAAR test has been identified.
 ANALYZING DATA: I will use a variety of data – STAAR results, I-Station results, DRA results, as well as formal and informal assessments in the classroom.
 DEVELOPING DEEPER UNDERSTANDING: Initial data gathering will lead to additional questions that will cause me to dig deeper into analyzing if my small group targeted instruction is showing improvements.
 ENGAGE IN SELF-REFLECTION: I will ask my self my some reflective questions, such as Will I be able to consistently implement small group instruction in order to collect data? Is small group instruction time helping to maximize the reading instruction minutes per day? Are my students making strides with higher-level comprehension questions?
 EXPLORING PROGRAMMIC PATTERNS: After talking with my site supervisor, our campus instructional coach, and other reading teachers, I will begin to create a more definite plan. DETERMINING DIRECTION: I am clear on what I am attempting to solve during my action research project. I will collaborate with our campus instructional coach as I implement my daily small groups. My time line is about 8-9 months. I believe this is very reasonable. As the project gets underway, I will revise and improve as needed.
 TAKING ACTION FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT: I will develop a written plan of my project and will use the Tool 7.1 template to assist me.
 SUSTAIN IMPROVEMENT: If my results show success and benefits for my students, then I will share my findings with other teachers that could benefit from the data. I will also apply this process to other parts of my professional development.

Week 2 Reflection

I am loving reading Leading with Passion and Knowledge by Nancy Dana.  This book is really challenging me in my learning about action research.  The idea of action research was new to me before I started this class, however after reading and reflecting on some of the ideas from this book, I understand why it is so important.'

One of the things I find interesting is how easy it is to create an action research plan for any area of needed growth in a school.  Upon reading the different questions and ideas posed in the book, I started thinking over my last 9 years of teaching.  I have been amazed at how some the ideas that I have read about have also been processes that have been similarly implemented at my school.  For example:  Thursday School which is much like the Friday School mentioned in the Dana text.  I have been reflecting on some of the decisions I have seen my principals make and realize that they used the action research model to get to the change that was being made.

In this week's videos, the word that stuck out the most to be was practical.  I thought it was very interesting (and useful) that Dr. Lewis made it a point to express the importance of our action research plan being practical.  In order to apply our learning to our students', our plan must be one that benefits our students at some level while helping them be successful educationally.

Educational Leaders and Blogging

As an experienced blogger of more than five years, I am well-versed on the practice of content curation and following the content stream of various blogs.  I believe that blogging is a unique way for us to record our thoughts, ideas, and experiences in a journal like format online for others to read and participate in conversation through commenting.

We are living in an age of content sharing with the rise of social media and the evolution of online disciplines.  Technology, specifically digital media, is a resource that leaders must use in order to meet their staff and students where the conversation takes place.  I can think of many ways that educational leaders can use bloggers in their work.

1.  A school blog could be used for communicating with parents.  There many things that go on in a building and constant flow of information for parents.  Setting up a blog to be used to keep parents informed would be one way to use blogging.

2.  Instructional/Curriculum Blog - This type of blog could be used for teachers to post different resources they are using in their classroom for their students.  This blog could be utilized by fellow teachers as well as for parents to see how they could help their students at home.

3.  Share Insights and Ideas - Educational leaders are full of great ideas and strong visions, and a blog could be used to share these insights as well as get feedback from others. 

Action Research

Action Research (administrative inquiry) is the process in which an admistrator intentionally studies what is going on in their school and based on data they collect, the appropriate changes are made.  Through administrative inquiry the principal is an active learner as he/she seeks out a needed change.  The administrative inquiry process incorporates 4 important steps:  pose a question, analyze data and read literature based on the question, make changes based on the data, and share findings with others.  The thing I love the most about this process is that the principal is an active learner and an active participant in the needed change.  Instead of having an outside consultant observe and present findings to the principal, the leader actually studies his/her own school and its unique situations based on data and makes changes based on their own school.  The leader learns with their school and the changes that they make are very intentional.  This process allows for the examining and reexamining of data to create a foundation for change in a school.

Action Research is a process that I believe can be used for many different situations.  The first example that comes to mind is inclusion teaching.  I believe that special education students need the most inclusive learning environment possible.  Action research could be used research my school and the students in my school building.  Through the data that is found, I could improve scheduling, co-teach classrooms, and how to best implement this for my students.  I believe studying the students as well as the teachers to find perfect matches would greatly benefit all students.  Action Research could also be used for specific curriculum skills.  Instead of using research based instruction, a principal could research the skill and find where his/her students are struggling the most.  Once they find this information, they then can make the changes that are needed in order to meet the needs of all students.  

Action Research could also be used when making decisions for the technology vision for a campus.  The principal could be an active learner with his/her students and teachers as they walk through how to implement appropriate and relative technology for their school.  The principal would pose the question, "What is the technology vision for our school?", and then study the data collected from their school and then make the decision based on their individual campus.  

There are many applicable uses of Action Research in the field of education--and I hope to include this practice as I grow professionally as an education administrator.