AR Progress Report

My action research project is coming along and proving me with some very interesting data. I have met with several administrators and staff members and my plan has been set into motion. The security and truancy departments are helping me with my project by supplying me with data and other resources that I may use to compare to the data that I am gathering via my research. The data that I am researching deals with tardies, truancy, skipping, and absences. The counselors and attendance personnel are supplying data as well and I am please to see that the staff is being very supportive as well. The tardy Monster is in place and functioning and the teachers are monitoring the halls and keeping track of those students that are not making it to class on time. The ISS department is helping with the overflow of students however there have been days where too many students are being sent to the Iss room and over-crowding has become a concern. I may have to alter the consequence of a full day in ISS and find an alternative room or area to send the students that are being swept for being tardy. It does seem to be working and teachers have reported that the students are aware of the “Tardy Monster” and are arriving on time so I am pleased with the results thus far. I will not have all the data for some time however, based on premature data the tardies and referrals seem to be decreasing. 

Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan:   The Tardy Monster Goal: The goal of my action research plan is to develop and implement a program that will reduce tardies and referrals and encourage students to get to class on time. Objective:  My objective is to collaborate with the administration and the entire staff and implement the “Tardy Monster” to help reduce tardies and referrals at our campus. The “tardy monster” is basically a lock your doors hall sweep system that will be put into effect to encourage students to get to class on time. Activities/Action: Schedule meetings with the administration and staff that will be taking part in implementing and enforcing the ”tardy monster”. This will ensure that the campus and district policy is being met and followed. I will also meet with the security officers to determine the best and most efficient plan for the monitoring of the halls, the lunchroom, and the corridors that students use to get to their classes. This will give provide me with a diagram of where I will need to place my “tardy monsters” or campus monitors that will be performing the sweep. Meeting with the truancy officer, the counselors, and with the attendance office personnel will also be required so that I may pull existing data to compare to that of my action research.  I will also be researching the travel time that it takes for the students to go from the main building to the portable building areas as well as to and from the gym, the lunchroom, and the fine arts building. I will continue the wondering process on my initial inquiry by conducting student and staff interviews to determine why the students are arriving late to their classes. Interview questions that I will propose for further inquiry will be: Why are the students late for class? Why are students not motivated to get to class on time? What needs to be done to alleviate the problem of tardiness on campus? What consequences should be implemented or imposed to encourage students to get to class on time? I will also research the district policy and student code of conduct to determine what consequences may be imposed or can be modified to remedy the situation. Holding the students as well s the parents accountable for failing to comply with the directive and tardy policy must be a priority and I feel that my program may be able to help control the problem we are having at our campus. I will compare and analyze the data to ensure that the plan is working and resolving the issues when it comes to tardies and referrals. Resources and Tools: The administration and staff, parents, and the students themselves are all valuable resources that I will use to help with my action resource. I will also attain the cooperation of the security officers, the truancy officer, the attendance office and the maintenance personnel. I will review the district policy as well as the student handbook to ensure compliance of my plan. I will be meeting with the department heads as well as the administration to inform them of my goal of implementing the “Tardy Monster” so that they in-turn may pass the information to the members in their departments to ensure total collaboration and participation from everyone on campus. Each department will be given their assignment in order to help with the implementation of the program. Timeline: It will definitely take a month or so to get everyone on board and well informed of my plan. Once everyone has been briefed and informed of what is to be expected, I will then put the “Tardy Monster” into effect. My plan is to spend one day a week acquiring the data from each of the department heads, the attendance office, and the counselors office for the entire year. I will also gather information and data from the security and truancy officers as well as the administration to ensure an accurate count of tardies and referrals. I will evaluate the data on a weekly basis and then once more at the end of each month. I will then total the numbers at the end of one year and compare the data from the previous year to determine if the “Tardy Monster” was a success or if it needs to be modified. Persons Responsible: Myself, Administration, Teachers, Students, Parents, Security Officers, Counselors, and the Tardy Monster (aka the hall sweepers) and the ISS department. Monitoring the Achievement or Goal: I will collect the data from the teachers, counselors, attendance office, security officers, and the administration on a weekly basis to see if the plan is working or if it needs to be modified. Researching how many referrals have been issued on a weekly basis will also provide data that can be evaluated as well. Interviewing the staff (hall sweepers) will also serve to provide valuable information for my achievement research. Evaluating their grade books as well as their roll sheets will provide on the spot data that I will use to monitor the achievement of the program.

Blog Reflection

Reflecting on what I have learned this week in my research class, I have realized the importance and the benefits of action research. The ability to question my teaching methods, the strategies I use, as well as how to develop my curriculum to suit the needs of my class will ensure that my students will learn and gain valuable insight about the subject matter. I have learned that with the use of action research, I will be able to collaborate with my administration and other staff members to provide the best possible instruction and leadership in my classroom. This will not only enhance my abilities as an educator but also the over-all performance of our campus.

Action Research: What I have learned.

As an educator, I am always searching for ways to improve my teaching methods in the classroom. One way to ensure I am on task and providing the most up to date strategies is to systematically examine my own practices through action research. I have learned that if I am able to examine the needs in my classroom, I will be able to implement a more productive and precise curriculum and learning environment for my students. Through my action research, I will be able to determine what changes I may need to make or implement in my classroom, how to implement the changes, what affects may come of the change, and who may be affected and why. Action research will allow me as an educator to question my methods, design an effective plan or strategy that will ensure learning, collect and analyze the data to see if my strategy is effective, to help determine future needs if necessary. It will allow me the opportunity to examine all aspects of the teacher/student relationship as well as any other classroom environmental needs, to facilitate change where the data and research indicates it should be made. This will ensure that I am doing everything possible to not only promote a positive and productive learning environment, but also a learning strategy that is developed for my class and its specific needs.

Educational leaders may benefit from the use of blogs because a blog allows educators and leaders to share tips, advice, knowledge and experiences. It could serve as a network for educators to turn to for additional resources and expertise. A blog could also serve to increase collaboration, unity and trust amongst the staff as they share their educational strategies to promote a more productive learning environment for the students and staff. Blogs could also be a good resource for professional staff development services.