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