Action Research Reflection

Since I was already in the middle of an action-research project at my school to build community in both our school and our classrooms, this class came at a very timely moment. The part where I drew the most important information was in creating an action plan and learning about different ways of inquiry.

     In developing my action plan, I realized some of the areas we needed to implement more inquiry and research elements. It also gave us a time-line for implementation and moments to meet as a team and discuss our research and continue with our inquiry. Through developing my action plan, I spoke with others who are in the middle of similar research and learned that this problem of lack or morale is something that is affecting more than just our school. As a result, we added more members to our team, so that we would have new perspectives. The number one and two contributors to lack of morale among our staff are new testing demands and lack of support from the administration. As a team, we are trying to research ways to help build morale despite these two factor.

    The other part of this course where I found a wealth of information to help me was in Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools (2010) by Harris, Edmonson, and Combs. I though this book was the most user friendly with tools that I could definitely use. I used the Action Plan Template along with the SIP model, but more importantly, it provided me with “strategies for sustaining improvement” (p. 94). I especially like the Delphi and Nominal Group methods. I can see us using both of these. In fact, in our last DI team meeting, we used the Nominal Group Technique in a modified way, and as a result, we got honest and GOOD feedback. From that information, we learned what our next PLC would focus on and left with goals for our research.

    Overall, this class has not only helped me as student, but it is helping my school bring about change. Action research is the most powerful tool to use in this endeavor, and I am so happy that I have a principal who has faith in his staff and allows me the opportunity to implement growth.

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 Steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.

Updated Action Plan

SCHOOL VISION: RHS will meet every staff and student’s needs and create college and career ready graduates.

GOAL:

1. Build a sense of community among the staff, making everyone feels a sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency.
2. Build a sense of community in our differentiated classroom where every student feels acceptance, belonging, respect, and concern.

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Survey of Staff’s morale	Google Docs	Kim Carlton Elsie Nash	October 2012
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	PLCs: Noticing the little things		Katie Fisher Tony Strohmeyer Other members of DI Committee	November 1, 2012
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Staff Appreciation Wall Golden Nuggets	Wall supplies and stationary for Golden Nuggets	DI Committee	November 2012 – May 2013
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Staff Team Building Events		Administrators and Me	November 2012 – May 2013
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Ending Survey of Staff Morale	Google Docs	DI Committee	May 2013
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Research DI strategies to build community in Managing and Leading a Differentiated Classroom by  Carol Ann Tomlinson and Marcia B. Imbeau	Managing and Leading a Differentiated Classroom by  Carol Ann Tomlinson and Marcia B. Imbeau	DI Committee	October 2012 – December 2012
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	PLC: Noticing the Little Things		Katie Fisher Tony Strohmeyer Other members of DI Committee	November 1, 2012
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Implement strategies in classroom	Managing and Leading a Differentiated Classroom by  Carol Ann Tomlinson and Marcia B. Imbeau	Elsie Nash	November 2012 – May 2013
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Assess students’ sense of community with comparison to beginning of school year and with survey	Survey and Research notes	Elsie Nash	January 2013 - May 2013
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Comparative analysis between 2nd and 5th classes	DI Strategies, Grades, Behavioral analysis	Elsie Nash	November 2012 – May 2013

Updated Action Plan

SCHOOL VISION: RHS will meet every staff and student’s needs and create college and career ready graduates.

GOAL:

1. Build a sense of community among the staff, making everyone feels a sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency.
2. Build a sense of community in our differentiated classroom where every student feels acceptance, belonging, respect, and concern.

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Survey of Staff’s morale	Google Docs	Kim Carlton Elsie Nash	October 2012
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	PLCs: Noticing the little things		Katie Fisher Tony Strohmeyer Other members of DI Committee	November 1, 2012
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Staff Appreciation Wall Golden Nuggets	Wall supplies and stationary for Golden Nuggets	DI Committee	November 2012 – May 2013
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Staff Team Building Events		Administrators and Me	November 2012 – May 2013
Create a sense of community among the staff:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Ending Survey of Staff Morale	Google Docs	DI Committee	May 2013
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Research DI strategies to build community in Managing and Leading a Differentiated Classroom by  Carol Ann Tomlinson and Marcia B. Imbeau	Managing and Leading a Differentiated Classroom by  Carol Ann Tomlinson and Marcia B. Imbeau	DI Committee	October 2012 – December 2012
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	PLC: Noticing the Little Things		Katie Fisher Tony Strohmeyer Other members of DI Committee	November 1, 2012
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Implement strategies in classroom	Managing and Leading a Differentiated Classroom by  Carol Ann Tomlinson and Marcia B. Imbeau	Elsie Nash	November 2012 – May 2013
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Assess students’ sense of community with comparison to beginning of school year and with survey	Survey and Research notes	Elsie Nash	January 2013 - May 2013
Create a sense of community among the students:  sense of belonging, usefulness, competence, and potency	Comparative analysis between 2nd and 5th classes	DI Strategies, Grades, Behavioral analysis	Elsie Nash	November 2012 – May 2013