Research Action Plan

SCHOOL VISION: West Orange-Stark Middle School will transform into a 90/50 campus by incorporating differentiated and small-group instruction, best practices, plus rigorous instructional strategies as well as student accountability.
Action Planning Template
GOAL:  To find out if homework increases student achievement in the area of reading for 7th graders at West Orange Stark Middle School.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation/ Assessments
Begin the action research process by creating a research question, stating the goal of the study, and developing inquiry questions.	Jillian Howard, ELA & Reading Teacher	November 2011-December 2011	Leading with Passion and Knowledge (Dana) Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools (Harris)	Action Plan Draft
Send home questionnaires to parents, students & teachers aimed at: the types of homework assigned, the amount of time spent on homework, and whether or not the homework that the children complete helps or hinders their classroom performance.	Classroom teachers, students, and parents	December 2011- January 2012	Questionnaires & Consent Forms	Questionnaires
Analyze & record data from parent, student & teacher questionnaires; finding similarities and differences	Jillian Howard, ELA & Reading Teacher, Classroom Teachers	January 2012-March 2012	Data from questionnaires	Chart & Graph of Data
Evaluate data from Class A, who gives homework, and data from Class B, who does not give homework	Classroom teachers and students	January 2012- March 2012	Daily grades, Test grades & Benchmarks	Reading/ELA CBA (Curriculum Based Assessment) Data from 1st – 4th 6 Weeks Benchmarks
Staff Development Training for teachers on the effectiveness of homework and how it helps with future assessments	Teachers and Administrators	April 2012- May 2012	Research Results, data, charts, graphs, expert opinions	Survey to find out if the staff development was useful in classroom and suggestions for improvement
Parental Involvement meeting on on how homework relates to in-class work; the objectives of the homework, and the goals that the homework will help them meet	Teachers, Parents, Students, and Administrators	April 2012-May 2012	Research results, data, charts and graphs, expert opinions	Survey to find out if the meeting was useful and suggestions for improvement
Teachers will continue to evaluate students’ performance based on the use of homework. Evaluations and suggestions will be examined and any necessary changes will be made for the following school year.	Teachers and Students and Administrators	November 2011- May 2012	PDAS/STARR Test	This is the final evaluation

Lessons Learned in Week Two

This week I identified and explored the nine passions that the author describes as major wonderings of many school leaders. I utilized these passions to help explore the possibilities for finding and defining my first wondering.  I developed three possible action research topics.

What I've learned About Action Research and How Leaders Might Use Blogs

One of the most effective things we can do as administrators and teachers is take the time to reflect critically on the things going on in our school and in our own classrooms. Action research enables us to do just that. Action research encourages school personnel to systematically develop a question, collect data, analyze the data, make necessary changes, and share the information with others (Dana p. 2). Action research allows teachers and administrators the time to collaborate with colleagues and pick each other’s brains, if you will, about concerns and issues that arise or changes that need to be made, so we can promote change and make better choices for the school. It allows us to openly communicate with grade levels so we can be horizontally and vertically aligned with each other. It puts teachers and administrators in learning situations where they are also engaged in the research. Action research allows you the time to easily gather and record data from your own classrooms or school and make changes based on your own research findings. This can improve a teacher’s confidence due to the evidence based teaching and can improve our teaching practices. Teachers need to feel empowered and action research gives us control over what is going on with our students and their overall performance in our own classroom.

Educational leaders can use blogs to post their ideas about a new program they want to implement. They can get professional opinions from other leaders, suggestions about different resources available, and get a deeper insight into similar programs already enforced in schools from the same demographics.