Update on Action Research after 4th six weeks

My action research project implements a Bobcat Tracker for all sixth grade students. It is a weekly schedule that keeps up with each class period. Parents are able to see their Tracker each night to see if they have homework. Also, if they have any type of discipline issue, they get their Tracker signed. Every two signatures is a day in lunch detention as well as every lost Tracker. It holds sixth graders accountable for their work, organization and behavior in all classes. I am happy to report that the fourth six-weeks period reported 24 failures. Although this number seems to be a little high, it is the exact same number we had last six weeks. It was a little disappointing not to see the number go down, but we are staying on level ground at this time. I checked into the the seventh and eighth failure rates. They do not have any type of Tracker in place and the eighth graders had 69 fail and the seventh grade had 74. I can’t attribute the sixth grade success solely to the Tracker, but it has helped. I have spoken with administration about getting a more permanent type of Tracker for next school year and making it mandatory for all grade levels. Middle school students, in general, need help with organization so I am looking into getting a small type of spiral with our school logo put on it. The nice thing about the Tracker is each week, they get a new one. The problem with implementing a spiral type idea is, if they lose it, it will be costly to keep replacing them. We are set to meet and discuss it more thoroughly after STAAR testing this next week. Hopefully we can come up with something that will benefit all students, not just the sixth graders.

Community Relations

Action Research Plan - The Bobcat Tracker

1.  Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation. Questions:  Should all grade levels use a tracker to monitor attendance, grades and behavior to promote greater success in all classes?  Is the Bobcat Tracker worth the time and do the grades reflect its effectiveness?  2.  Activities designed to achieve the objectives. I plan on collecting data from each six weeks and comparing them.  The first six weeks, there was no tracker, so the idea is that the failure rate becomes lower each six weeks.  The 6th grade team implemented this plan so I will be collecting the data.  It is important for them, as a team, to be assertive and accountable for checking the student’s trackers.  The student’s should never leave a class with a blank next to it.  It should provide either what they did that day or what is due later in the week.  This also makes it a helpful tool for their parents to see what they are learning, how they are behaving in class and their attendance.  I will be in charge of lunch detention for the student’s that forget their trackers, lose them or receive two signatures for misbehavior in classes.  3.  Resources and research tools needed for data gathering. I will use the data from the end of each six weeks.  I will get with Tricia Barba, our Data Clerk, to run me off a copy of the 6th grade classes failure report as well as all of their grades to see if there is improvement. I will meet with the 6th grade team at the end of each six weeks to modify or adjust the tracker if needed and let them know what the data says.  I will collaborate with my site supervisor as well to inform him of the progress. 4.  Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities. I will collect data from the first six weeks to see where we started as far as failure rates.  Then, I will collect it at the end of each six weeks after that to see if the implementation is working.  By June of 2013, I should know if the tracker was effective and worth pursuing.  I will also collect data from the 7th grade team to see how their failure rate was at the end of the year without using any type of tracker.  At that point, I will compare the two grade levels and show the progression of the tracker if there is one. 5.  Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan. Although it is my responsibility to follow through with the data and the action plan itself, the implementation of the plan will fall mainly on the 6th grade team.  This was originally their project so I know they support it.  I will also keep my site supervisor informed throughout the research.  All data will need to be collected from my data clerk at school. 6.  Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives. I will compare data each six weeks as well as monitor lunch detention for the student’s that have issues with their trackers.  I will also communicate with parents that have questions about the tracker.  By June, the process will be complete and it will just be a case of comparing to see if the goal was met. 7.  Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study. Luckily, numbers don’t lie.  The assessment will be done by comparing the amount of failures at the end of each 6 weeks period.  Also, at the end of the school year, we will also pull data from the 7th grade to use it for comparison as well.  By evaluating the use of the tracker with one class versus no tracker at all, we ought to be able to come to a conclusion on the effectiveness of the tracker. Action Planning Template Goal:  To determine the effectiveness of the Bobcat Tracker Action Steps(s): Person(s) Responsible: Timeline: Start/End Needed Resources Evaluation Get a print out of grades from the first six weeks and note the number of failures Brandi Stearns, 6th grade teachers and the Data Clerk December 2012 Computer and the print out of grades Notes and suggestions taken from the 6th grade team.  Review tardies, discipline and homework.  Get a print out of grades from the second six weeks and note the number of failures.  Then compare them with the first six weeks. Brandi Stearns, 6th grade teachers and the Data Clerk December 2012 Computer and the print out of grades Notes and suggestions taken from the 6th grade team.  Review tardies, discipline and homework.  Continue getting print outs from each six weeks and note the number of failures.  Create a diagram with improvement if applicable for comparison. Brandi Stearns, 6th grade teachers and the Data Clerk January-June of 2013 Computer and print out of the grades Notes and suggestions taken from the 6th grade team.  Review tardies, discipline and homework. Conduct assessments at the end of each 6 weeks period.  Compile a list of grades from the 7th graders of the last six weeks of school.  Compare the failure rate to that of the 6th grade team that utilized the Tracker and test for its effectiveness. Brandi Stearns, 6th and 7th grade teams and the Data Clerk May-June 2013 Computer and print out of the grades Compare and contrast the 6th and 7th grade data with site supervisor and determine the effectiveness of the Tracker. Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

GRANTS

After reviewing the videos in week 2, I chose to summarize Dr. Chargois and Dr. Lewis.  I found it interesting that they both used grants for their BIG projects.  One used the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and the other used Melinda and Bill Gates School Improvement Grant.  As education funds are being cut drastically, we need to open our eyes and see what all is out there.  I have heard horror stories about filling out grant paperwork, but if the outcome is what you are seeking, then it was worth the time you put into it.  We can't just assume that our districts will be behinid our projects and help get them funded.  It takes RESEARCH, lots and lots of research but there are some wonderful prgrams that want to help with student achievement.
We better start looking into grants.............

Why do we use Action Research?

When beginning my blog, I was a little unclear as to what action research even meant.  After some reading and research, I learned it was a tool that most people use, they just don't know what it is called.  Action research seems to be the way for teachers and administrators to hold themselves accountable for what and how they are teaching.  This is not a new theory, merely a "proper" name for  what most successful teachers are doing already.  As educators, we are constantly evaluating the students by checking their response to the learning opportunities in their classrooms.  Knowing how to collect the information on our own is needed when trying to solve a problem.
We have all been victims of a "great idea" gone bad.  I, for one, have sat through conferences, staff developments, websites, etc..., with all these amazing ideas on how to solve a particular issue.  Sadly, I never seem to read the fine print that tells me I need more time, more money or more support.  It can be very frustrating.
One of the greatest advantages to action research is that I am able to do it on my own.  I believe that by implementing the time myself, I will become more invested in the success for my students.  When I know that I am able to feed my passion, I tend to take ownership because I  want it to be successful.  At this point, I feel pure joy because  I know that I came up with the best outcome possible. 
Reflection is also a large part of action research.  This is a tool that allows us to process our outcome and see if it is, in fact, the best solution.  Since I would have started the research at the beginning, I will know each step along the way.  Being able to reflect upon each individual step will allow me to make changes and modifications to my research so that I can have the ultimate success.
The old familiar saying, "timing is everything" really  hits hard when it comes to action research.  To come up with the project, implement the plan, research, and then reflect upon it, could take months if not longer.  Many people just don't want to put forth the time or effort on such an ordeal.  Depending on if I chose to use the project annually, I could be evaluating it and tweaking it each year for quite awhile until I was pleased with the end result. 
There are always pros and cons to every situation, I just have to weigh my options and strive for the highest success for my students.

Educational Blogging

What is educational blogging and why in the world are people using it?  We, as educators, have to be up to date on the latest technology to compete in the ever changing world.  People change status updates, pin things and even blog.  It can be a wonderful way for peers near and far to learn from one another.
In education, no matter what level you teach, you have the opportunity to share your experiences, research and knowledge.  I have used blogs in the past for quotes and funny pictures to send out to staff on a Monday morning.  Everyone likes an early morning chuckle.  The idea of sharing lessons and gaining new ideas is just a click away.  With technology being available 24/7, we should embrace this convenience.  Blogging not only gives an individual their own space to air out their frustrations, but it also allows them the opportunity to shine and receive a following. 
Blogging shouldn't be scary, but a way to enhance our learning.  It seems that once you start blogging, it takes on a life of its own.  You gain friends first, and then you begin to follow others...and it doesn't hurt that you can do it from the comforts of your own home.
Cheers~
brandi