Action Research Plan

Everyone, here is my Action Research Plan. I am currently a substitute teacher in Lumberton ISD. I am not assigned to one particular campus so I am able to serve multiple campuses in the district such as the Primary, Intermediate and the Middle School. I am certified out-of-the country and I have applied for a probationary certificate from the TEA. I am currently seeking full time employment as a teacher so that I can complete the requirements toward certification. 

Therefore, this is what brought me to make an Action Research Plan about substitute teaching. 

Question:

What effect do substitute teachers have on student achievement? 

Please feel free to give me some comments and ideas regarding my plan. If there is anyway I could improve, please give some remarks. I would gladly appreciate it. Thank you.

Action Research Plan
Goal: To investigate the impact of substitute teacher on student achievement.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Meet with the principals to determine which school districts’ are interested in participating.	Waldrop, Katherine; Wing, Paige; Stringer, Leanna; Wing, Kevin	April 1, 2013 /  April 12, 2013	Signed documentation giving approval to conduct the research plan	N/A
Obtain permission from the participating school to conduct a study of teachers absenteeism.	Waldrop, Katherine; Wing, Paige; Stringer, Leanna; Wing, Kevin	April 15, 2013 / April 26, 2013	Signed documentation from the participating school principal; Teachers attendance for the SY 2012-2013	N/A
Conduct a study of TAKs data in participating schools comparing TAKs scores with teacher absentee rates by teacher.	Waldrop, Katherine; Wing, Paige; Stringer, Leanna; Wing, Kevin	May 1, 2013 / May 31, 2013	TAKs results for school year 2012-2013 and at least one school	Evaluate to determine if lower TAKs scores connected with higher teacher absentee rates.
Creating a survey/questionnaire to substitute teachers on ways how to be effective and better prepared to teach.	Die, Edna	May 1, 2013/ May 21, 2013	A list of substitute teachers at the school who is willing to participate, a Survey Monkey Survey.	Evaluate results and survey possible and feasible suggestions from the substitute teachers.
Create or organize group of teachers to discuss popular methods for preparing the substitute teacher to maximize the students learning.	Die, Edna; Participating Principals	May 1, 2013/ August 30, 2013	Names of teachers in interesting in participating, A room for the meeting and availability of the teachers participating	Minutes of the meeting and Evaluation of the results.
Administer and determination of the potential costs of implementation.	Die, Edna	August 1, 2013 / August 30, 2013		Determine which suggestions have the most potential for impact with least cost.
Present findings to involved principals.	Die, Edna; Participating Principals	September 2, 2013 /  September 30, 2013		Determine schools interested in applying suggestions from the study.
Establish a plan of training or preparation for substitutes and begin training teachers on methods of preparation for an absence.	Die, Edna; Participating Principals	October 2013	Obtain funds for training, organizations, professional development sessions, etc.	Evaluate substitute and teacher responses through surveys, interviews, etc.
Implement plan for new school year and compare TAKs data.	Die, Edna; Participating Principals	November 2013	Ongoing use of training as mentioned above, access to TAKs data.	Determine if actions have resulted an impact on TAKs scores and compares teachers absentee rates.

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Week 2 Reflection

What is Real Life Research Action Examples? Real life/world research is a common responsibility of professionals and practitioners in a wide range of both public and private settings. These include teachers, social workers and health service professionals, managers and specialists in business, architects, designers, criminologists and accountants among many others. This week’s lecture, interviews, readings and assignments gave examples of action research in educational settings. There were interviews with three educational leaders. I like the fact that the leaders that were interviewed encourage their teachers to look at the data, as well as the context, and many decisions are based on data.

I chose Dr. Chargois and Dr. Lewis as my two scholars for my assignment. Dr. Lewis said that you should ask, “What is practical? What do you need to know to apply to student learning?” You want to do something that will benefit the students. I also like what Dr. Chargois said about continuous learning. "We should never stop growing. If your green, your growing. If your brown, your dying." I wanted to have an impact in every kids that I teach, not just one or two but all of my students. I learned that when individuals/teachers decide to carry out action research, we generally want to find ways of understanding the circumstances and contexts better, and find out what changes can be made to improve and enrich both their own situations and that of others. These readings, examples and interviews helped me to identify my action research topic and

Week 2 Discussion

Please respond to the following on the Discussion Board:

• the purpose of your proposed action research study (in other words, answer: what you will research – you may identify more than one topic of interest)

• the significance of your proposed action research study (please explain who will benefit in some way(s) from the information that your action research project will provide, and how they will benefit)

Please be as specific as possible in your identification of your study purpose and significance. Please also provide a substantive response to two or more of your classmates on their Discussion Board postings.

1. The action research that I propose to study is a website where teachers, students and parents will be able to correspond and post comments for communication and interaction purposes. I also propose electronic reading for students and teachers as well. The effect of technology on students’ enthusiasm for learning (both at school and away from school) has a big impact nowadays. I would like that the teachers and parents could interact even if not on a daily basis but at least they can send out their concern through the website towards the teachers.
2. According to Calvert (1994), American education is a system searching for solutions. Today’s students and kids and also parents and teachers as well have grown up in a technological world with television, electronic toys, video games, VCR’s, cellular phones and more. They are accustomed to receiving and processing information through multi-sensory sources. I wanted to have an easy communication between parents, students and teachers. There should no communication gap between parents and students of this age. I believe that multimedia computer technology could enhance not just the core of curricula but the availability of teachers to answer parents concern regarding their kids would be addressed in a timely manner. This research study not only will increased my students’ enthusiasm for learning, but it will also rekindle my excitement for teaching and hearing out everybody's‘ questions and concerns about teaching. I am looking forward to the hectic pace and the commotion that will result with this research.

STAY HUNGRY. STAY FOOLISH. ~ Steve Jobs

Blogging

I have always been a fan of blogging. Actually, I have several blogs that I made throughout the years but ever since I have Facebook, I stopped updating them which I shouldn't have and now here I am, back to blogging again.

Has anyone heard about The Book of Awesome? Well, he is now making millions of copies of his books and making thousands of money and that is because he started blogging about all awesome things. Being an educator and a leader at the same time, we have a lot in our plate and by blogging we can express deeply felt emotions, articulate ideas through writing, and form and maintain community forums with the same interests like us. As an educational tool, blogs may be integrated in a multifaceted manner to accommodate all learners. Blogging encourages students to read and write, regardless of the subject matter. As an educator, I find blogging can be an excellent tool to promote literacy and writing skills. Blogging can also increase student involvement because it uses a medium students find engaging and comfortable. In addition, blogs can serve as a classroom management tool, for collaboration among peers, and as part of educator/student portfolios.

Action Research

Elliot (1988) describes action research as a continual set of spirals consisting of reflection and action. Each spiral involves:

1. clarifying and diagnosing a practical situation that needs to be improved or a practical problem that needs to be resolved.
2. formulating action strategies for improving the situation or resolving the problem.
3. implementing the action strategies and evaluating their effectiveness.
4. clarifying the situation, resulting in new definitions of problems or areas for improvement.

I use the tagxedo to brainstorm my understanding with regards to action research and by doing so, I was able to pull out some ideas of what action research is all about. According to my readings,  action Research refers to research intended to bring about change of some kind, usually with a social justice focus. The action research process can help us understand what is happening in our classroom and identify the changes that improve teaching and learning. Action research can help us answer questions we have about the effectiveness of specific instructional strategies, the performance of specific students and classroom management techniques.  Action research provides qualitative data that we can use to adjust our curriculum content, delivery and instructional practices to improve student learning. Action research will help me implement informed change.  Every time I will change a lesson plan or try a new approach with my students, I am engaged in trying to figure out what works. Even though I may not acknowledge it as formal research, I am still investigating, implementing, reflecting, and refining my approach.

Action research also helps you take charge of your personal professional development. As you reflect on your own actions and observe other master teachers, you will identify the skills and strategies you would like to add to your own professional toolbox. As you research potential solutions and are exposed to new ideas, you will identify the skills, management, and instructional training needed to make the changes you want to see.

In reality, life is complex and things rarely go as planned. Indeed, although action research may start with a carefully planned action, the nature of the process makes the outcome uncertain. All teachers want to reach their students more effectively and help them become better learners and citizens. Action research will provide a reflective process I can use to implement changes in my classroom and determine if those changes result in the desired outcome.

Our ideas and experience combined with action research are a powerful formula for effective change!

Breathe. Relax. Take a look around.