Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: Improving Reading Comprehension in 11th graders
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Identify students who was unsuccessful on 10th grade STAAR reading	Counselors	June 2013	10th grade STAAR reading results	Create list of all incoming 11th graders that was unsuccessful on 10th grade STAAR reading test
Alternate method of reading delivery to students to find out what was most effective: Reading silently, orally or listening to audiobook recording	Teacher	August 2013- June 2014	Textbook, short story, novel, or play & corresponding audiobook recording	Class Discussions Exit Slips Quizzes Tests
Weekly/Monthly released STAAR reading selection and corresponding questions	TEA website	August 2013- June 2014	Released STAAR reading selection tests	Track  improvement or changes in score weekly/monthly
Gauge any improvements to STAAR score on next attempt	STAAR Assessment	November 2013   March 2014	STAAR reading score	Create list of successful student and unsuccessful student from group. Gauge any improvement in score.

Putting the Research Action Pan into Action

This week was very hard. I came up with my 8 possible topics last week was hard but figuring out how to break down my topics into one question and the steps that will be needed to put that into action has been nearly impossible! Figuring out what would be a good topic has been the hardest decision to make. I wasn't sure what area needed the most help or in which direction I should go. I talked with my site supervisor and even after he gave me suggestions, I have decided to go into an area that I have only looked at fleetingly. I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Then breaking down my one question into small steps is not easy to manage. I guess I didn't think about how I will set out to do what I thought to do. I know that analyzing data is a weak area of mine since I don't do it very much now so I know that part of my research plan will take some time. Sustaining improvement for any positive aspects of my research is also an area I didn't think much about. I guess I will find out how to do that as I get my data and adjust my plan accordingly.

This week we looked at the self-reflection and wondering that goes into the brainstorming process before you begin an action plan. I guess I would first say that I didn't think coming up with an action plan would be this hard! I didn't think I would have to do so much research before I even do any research! Despite all that though, I'm glad I am doing the research. I don't just want to slap something together for a grade and then come away with a plan that can't help the students I look at every day. I want to help them in some way or at least do something that have the potential to help them learn better. After doing this wondering, I found that some of my action plan was too lofty and maybe I need to sit down and plan something simpler but might be more effective. I need to keep my eyes focused on what problems or issues I face at my school and what can I do to make me and my students environment better. This change in perspective was mind-blowing. After all, my action plan should be about something that will help my students’ academic lives better, not mine.  

Analysis of Blogs for Educational Purposes

Educational leaders can use blogs to collaborate with other leaders nation or worldwide. By blogging about an issue you may have a tough time dealing with to your community of followers you may get a suggestion that you have not heard of before. This practice can turn into a nation or worldwide PLC where the give and take of information can hone you into a better and more efficient educational leader.  That has to be a good thing.

What I Learned About Action Research

I have learned a lot from this study about action research. First, I learned that it wasn't what I thought it was which was what AASA Journal defined as traditional research. I pictured action research to be something like a person locked in a dusty and dark small room peering over their glasses at antique lap sized books or a scientist squinting into a microscope carefully jotting down the results of his experiment. Instead I found out that action research is something that I do every day in some form or fashion as an 11th and 12th grade English teacher. Every day, sometimes after each class, I reflect on what worked in the lesson and didn't work and adjust accordingly. Sometimes I find that my morning classes get the worst part of the process because I test everything out on them but my later classes get the benefit of me adjusting things throughout the day.

I didn't realize that PLC's were a part of my reflective progress as well but I find that when I get stuck or frustrated trying to reach the students, after I get suggestions from my colleagues, my classes go smoother. I like that our principal has allowed time during the school day to give us time to work together as a team. As a future administrator, I must keep this in mind.