Agreed upon Action Research Plan

After talking with my site supervisor, I decided to use the Delphi Model strategy in my action research. I will apply the Delphi model by sending out surveys/questionnaires to the teachers about the issues/concerns of  not having PLC across grade level, then I will summarize the answers and present a rationale for the answers during a staff meeting.




Goal:
In what ways can a collaborative culture characterized by pre-k and kindergarten teachers communicating, understanding, and sharing expectations for all students be developed in my school? How does this collaborative culture affect students’ learning in kindergarten?

Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Develop a questionnaire for Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers regarding PLC across grade levels	Operium Jackson/Site Supervisor	4/1/2012-4/15/2012	Computer Printer Copy machine	Site supervisor review and recommendations. Make changes if needed
Send out questionnaire to Pre-k And Kindergarten Teachers regarding PLC across grade levels	Operium Jackson	4/15/2012-4/25/ 2012	Teacher mailboxes	Site supervisor
Analyze data from surveys	Operium Jackson/Site Supervisor	4/25/2012-4/30/2012	Teacher Questionnaires	Site supervisor review and recommendations. Make changes if needed
Provide a summary of the answers given, and a rationale, if possible. Ask for changes are revisions for answers	Operium Jackson	5/1/2012-5/10/2012	Teacher Questionnaires	Site supervisor review and recommendations. Make changes if needed
Review changes and revisions of answers from questionnaire	Operium Jackson	5/10/2012-5/14/2012	Teacher Questionnaires	Site supervisor review and recommendations. Make changes if needed
Share results from questionnaire at staff meeting	Operium Jackson	5/15/2012	Results of questionnaire	Site supervisor/Teachers
Research information about building collaborative cultures across grade levels	Operium Jackson	5/15/2012-7/15/2012	Internet, books, articles
Present findings to site supervisor	Operium Jackson	8/1/2012	Literature Review	Site supervisor review and recommendations. Make changes if needed
Organize and facilitate the creation of a Professional Learning Committee across grade levels	Operium Jackson/Site Supervisor	8/15/2012-8/30/2012	School email Library	Completion of PLC across grade levels
Attend PLC across grade level meetings for teachers to discuss students, expectations, instructional strategies etc…	Operium Jackson/Site Supervisor	every six weeks	Library Students grades	Site supervisor
Review and Analyze data of the number of students from the previous year to the current year who were referred to special services by Kindergarten Teachers by the end of the first semester	Operium Jackson TIPS Coordinator	1/6/2013-3/6/2013	TIPS data	Site supervisor
Develop second survey for teachers regarding the implementation of the PLC across grade levels	Operium Jackson/ Site Supervisor	2/15/2013-2/28/2013	Computer Printer Copy machine	Site supervisor reviews data and makes recommendations
Send out surveys to Pre-k And Kindergarten Teachers regarding communication between grade levels	Operium Jackson	3/1/2013-3/15/ 2013	School mailbox	Site supervisor
Analyze data from surveys	Operium Jackson/ Site Supervisor	3/15/2013-3/25/2013	Surveys	Site supervisor reviews data and makes recommendations
Present data to the site supervisor	Operium Jackson	3/30/2013	TIPS data Teacher surveys Literature Review Notes from PLC meetings	Site supervisor reviews data and makes recommendations
Compile data and draw conclusions from PLC meetings	Operium Jackson	4/1/2013-5/2013	TIPS data Notes from PLC meetings Teacher survey Student’s grades	Site supervisor reviews data and makes recommendations
Present final report to teachers and administrators using a PowerPoint presentation. Discuss effectiveness and ineffectiveness of PLC across grade levels. Make recommendations for the next year	Operium Jackson	5/20/2013	Computer Projection screen	Final Report

　

　

　

Action Research Plan

Goal:
In what ways can a collaborative culture characterized by pre-k and kindergarten teachers communicating, understanding, and sharing expectations for all students be developed in my school? How does this collaborative culture affect students’ learning in kindergarten?

Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Develop a survey for Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers regarding communication issues across grade levels	Operium Jackson/Site Supervisor	4/1/2012-4/15/2012	Computer Printer Copy machine	Site supervisor review and recommendations. Make changes if needed
Send out surveys to Pre-k And Kindergarten Teachers regarding communication between grade levels	Operium Jackson	4/15/2012-5/1 2012	Teacher mailboxes	Site supervisor
Analyze data from surveys	Operium Jackson/Site Supervisor	5/1/2012-5/10/2012	Teacher Surveys	Site supervisor review and recommendations. Make changes if needed
Share results from survey at staff meeting	Operium Jackson	5/15/2012	Data results of surveys	Site supervisor/Teachers
Research information about building collaborative cultures across grade levels	Operium Jackson	5/15/2012-7/15/2012	Internet, books, articles
Present findings to site supervisor	Operium Jackson	8/1/2012	Literature Review	Site supervisor review and recommendations. Make changes if needed
Organize and facilitate the creation of a Professional Learning Committee across grade levels	Operium Jackson/Site Supervisor	8/15/2012-8/30/2012	School email Library	Completion of PLC across grade levels
Attend PLC across grade level meetings for teachers to discuss students, expectations, instructional strategies etc…	Operium Jackson/Site Supervisor	every six weeks	LibraryStudents grades	Site supervisor
Review and Analyze data of the number of students from the previous year to the current year who were referred to special services by Kindergarten Teachers by the end of the first semester	Operium Jackson TIPS Coordinator	1/6/2013-3/6/2013	TIPS data	Site supervisor
Develop second survey for teachers regarding the implementation of the PLC across grade levels	Operium Jackson/ Site Supervisor	2/15/2013-2/28/2013	Computer Printer Copy machine	Site supervisor reviews data and makes recommendations
Send out surveys to Pre-k And Kindergarten Teachers regarding communication between grade levels	Operium Jackson	3/1/2013-3/15/ 2013	School mailbox	Site supervisor
Analyze data from surveys	Operium Jackson/ Site Supervisor	3/15/2013-3/25/2013	Surveys	Site supervisor reviews data and makes recommendations
Present data to the site supervisor	Operium Jackson	3/30/2013	TIPS data Teacher surveysLiterature Review Notes from PLC meetings	Site supervisor reviews data and makes recommendations
Compile data and draw conclusions from PLC meetings	Operium Jackson	4/1/2013-5/2013	TIPS data Notes from PLC meetings Teacher surveyStudent’s grades	Site supervisor reviews data and makes recommendations
Present final report to teachers and administrators using a PowerPoint presentation. Discuss effectiveness and ineffectiveness of PLC across grade levels. Make recommendations for the next year	Operium Jackson	5/20/2013	Computer Projection screen Computer lab	Final Report

Purpose and Significance of Action Research

I learned in week 2 the importance of being action research oriented. When engaging in action research, it is important that the purpose for your action research be focused, practical, and easy for you to apply it your particular situation. You must also understand the significance of the action research project. Who will it benefit? What will they know, do, and understand better? Also, it takes time to discover a true passion that will sustain you through the process of action research, and once you have developed your wondering, always be open to allow your wondering to change and evolve over time as you engage in inquiry.

How Educational Leaders Might Use Blogs

Educational leaders can use blogs to foster collaboration and team-building skills among the school community. Blogs are also a great way for educational leaders to keep teachers, parents, and students updated about current events and changes that may occur in the future within the school. They also provide a platform to talk about issues, concerns, or problems in the school.

What I Have learned about Action Research

I have learned that action research is a process in which individuals examine their own practices, and take action for change based on what they learned as a result of the inquiry. This process allows individuals to pose a question, gather data, reflect, and decide a course of action. As a teacher, action research will allow me to learn about myself and my students. It also allows for me to seek ways to improve instruction and increase student achievement. As a future administrator, action research will allow me to reflect on my own practice and better understand and reform standard school practices. It will allow me to focus on one issue that I can take charge of and control. Action research will also help me to become a role model for the teachers and students that I may lead. If I want the students and teachers to be learners, then I must model that behavior. Also, it will allow me to collaboratively work with other principals or teachers to consider ways of addressing a problem or concern. I understand that action research will allow me to grow professionally. It will help me to see things differently than I would normally see them, and reflect on my practices as well.