HOLY LORD IT'S JANUARY!!!

Hello fellow grad students,
  I cant BELIEVE it's already January.  This semester has been very productive as far as my action research plan has gone.  We've almost stayed on schedule as far as meetings have gone.  We're receiving teacher feedback AND I took the advice of my genius classmates (yall) to begin our changes BEFORE school (I can't imagine what we'd have done if we didn't make that change...CHAOS!).  Our first 2 months of school brought forth the most stress and changes.  Now, we're definitely settled into place and we have big time changes from last year.  The changes have had a huge affect on our students, but also on our staff.  I already see places where we need to change some things that are not working during dismissal expectations, but other than a few hiccups, we've got a good flow. 

     This course was very challenging for me at the beginning.  I was nervous because I had just developed my internship plan of 44 ways I’m going to grow myself as a leader and basically creating a “to do” list over the next eighteen months.  I was very anxious when I started learning about what an action research plan was. I thought, I had just created a plan and now I have to add more to my list?! During one of the first two weeks there were many videos that we were supposed to watch on blackboard where some Lamar professors were discussing what an action research plan was and I remember sitting there with a confused look on my face as my heart started beating faster and faster.  I did NOT understand what we were supposed to do and my anxiety and blood pressure began rising and rising.  One part of this course that I truly appreciated each week was our weekly web conference.  Dr. Abshire never failed to answer all of our questions and explain in normal terms what was expected of us each week.  I also really felt comforted when I saw that many of my classmates had the same anxiety as I did.  In an online course it’s easy to feel alone and isolated but the discussion boards, the web conferences, conferences with our field supervisor, and blogging helps me to feel like I’m not alone in this and there are others experiencing the same experiences as I am. 

   Blogging started off confusing and scary.  I first thought that it was just another way the course wanted us to implement technology and I rolled my eyes at the thought of it.  I’ve learned to really value my blog and my classmate’s blogs.  I love getting to read the learning, research, questions and wonderings that my classmates are experiencing.  Their blogs inspire me and remind me to add certain things to my plan or reconsider things in my plan.  I feel encouraged and supported when I read their blogs, like we’re all rooting for each other.

    The first thing I do each week is read and respond to the discussion boards.  I feel that they’re a good way for me to focus my brain on what we’re studying this week.  I love reading the thoughts of my classmates and getting their opinions on our readings and what they’re “taking away” from this course.  This week’s question was fun to read.  I think I ended up reading over 20 responses to this question because it kept reminding me of all of the awesome tools we’ve obtained as we leave this course. 

     I really enjoyed the week when we listened to the interviews of Lamar graduates discussing how they’ve used action research in their current positions.  It was really neat seeing how the superintendent of Pasadena ISD uses a tool that I’m learning about.  It made me feel that what I’m doing is relevant and will help grow me as I travel on my path to administration.  I feel that what I’m doing now in graduate school is important and it’s helping my campus and staff.  I feel that everything I’ve done thus far in grad school is helping me make my campus a better place.  I feel that it’s “forcing” me to create these wonderful plans that are going to make my life easier and the teacher’s lives easier and less stressful. 

    This course has been stressful and scary at times, but I’m leaving this course feeling excited and supported as I implement my action research plan at my school over the next eighteen months! 

Week 4 Thinking

This week's assignment left a lot of time for reflection about what I need to do as I think even deeper about my action research plan. I really enjoyed reading about the different strategies to use for sustaining improvement and I even decided that I want to add a nominal group meeting during my implementation of my plan (I'm sure I'll be writing about it on here afterwards!). My conference this week with my site supervisor was very beneficial as far as talking out what our goals are and what we want to see happen on our campus.  We both felt inspired, however.....I feel very overwhelmed about beginning this process.  I keep telling myself  "baby steps, Jennifer....baby steps...".  It's a very daunting task, but I need to remember that it's ok to change my thinking as I research, it's ok if something isn't working and I need to "revamp" or "modify".  We've set some big goals for our campus.....not unattainable.....but BIG. At this time, I have no revisions for my action research plan.  Give me about a week or two as we start school and I'm sure I'll be making revisions left and right....and that's ok!!

Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: Significantly decrease negative behavior among student population in common areas and in classrooms at Ross Elementary School by developing clear expectations and enforcing consistent consequences both positive and negative
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:		Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
The behavior support committee will meet and discuss goals, prioritize which steps should be implemented first in our school, and how we will measure success.	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Jennifer Richards	August 13, 2013		·      At this point there are no necessary resources except the members of our team to attend the meeting.	The evaluation of our meeting will be the list of goals we create, resources we decide to use, and a prioritized list of actions to implement at the beginning of the school year
The committee will assist in leading a staff meeting to introduce their purpose and inform the staff of the upcoming changes in school wide management.	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Jennifer Richards	September 2013		·      Faculty ·      Behavior Support Team	Discussion and collaboration amidst the behavior support team after the meeting
The committee will create a survey for teachers to take to get a feel for student climate and feelings toward behavior management at the beginning of the year	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness, Behavior Support Team Members (including Jennifer Richards)	September 2013		·      Computer ·      Survey ·      Teachers to take survey	Results of the teacher survey
The behavior support team will meet to discuss findings from the first teacher survey and discuss what steps of our plan to implement first.	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Behavior Support Team (including Jennifer Richards)	September 2013		·      Teacher survey results ·      Research findings done by teachers	Teacher survey results and list of ideas from first meeting
Hold a faculty meeting to discuss school wide behavior plan and expectations that will be implemented first.  Answer questions from faculty and clarify any confusion.	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Behavior Support Team (including Jennifer Richards)	October 2013		·      Faculty ·      Summary of expectations of teachers and list of new responsibilities of teachers	Discussion and collaboration amidst the behavior support team after the meeting
Hold a meeting with the behavior support team to discuss if the faculty needs more direction or time to adjust to the newest implemented procedure or if we’re ready to add our next management procedure.	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Behavior Support Team (including Jennifer Richards)	November 2013		·      List of procedures to implement from the first meeting ·      Documentation of teacher observation ·      Research findings done by teachers ·      Office referrals from last year this month	We will be discussing what we’ve observed since the new procedures were set in place, what feedback we’re getting from teachers, and the number of office referrals from last year compared to this year
Depending on findings from the last behavior support team meeting, we will either introduce another management procedure to begin implementing in our school or we can continue to monitor and adjust our implementation from our first procedure and make any necessary changes	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Behavior Support Team (including Jennifer Richards)	November/December 2013		·   Feedback forms for teachers ·   List of procedures to implement from first meeting ·   Any additional questions or concerns from teachers submitted to behavior support team ·   Office referrals from last year this month	We will be discussing what we’ve observed since the new procedures were set in place, what feedback we’re getting from teachers, and the number of office referrals from last year compared to this year
Meet with behavior support team to adjust our plan as needed and either choose which procedure to implement next or adjust our current procedure to meet the needs of teachers and students	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Behavior Support Team (including Jennifer Richards)	January/February 2014		·   List of procedures to implement from first meeting ·   research findings done from team members ·   office referrals from last year this month	We will be discussing what we’ve observed since the new procedures were set in place, what feedback we’re getting from teachers, and the number of office referrals from last year compared to this year
Survey teachers on their current feelings to the changes being made and give them an opportunity to share what they feel is working well and what they feel needs to be adjusted	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Behavior Support team (including Jennifer Richards)	February/March 2014		·   survey for teachers ·   office referrals from last year and this year during this month	Results from teacher survey and looking at the number of office referrals from last year
Hold a staff meeting to discuss teacher survey results and what our next step of action is	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Behavior Support team (including Jennifer Richards)	March 2014		·   results from teacher survey ·   list of procedures to implement from first meeting ·   research findings from team members	Results from teacher survey and discussions /observations from team members
Final meeting with Behavior support team meeting to discuss plans for where to begin next school year, what worked well this year, what did not work well, and what research findings we need to implement	Assistant Principal, Donna Hartness Behavior Support Team (including Jennifer Richards)	May 2014		·   feedback from teachers ·   research findings done by team members	Survey results from teachers, feedback from teachers, office referrals from this year compared to last year

Reflections on Action Research Week 2

     As I think about my second week to ever even hear the words "action research", my brain is swimming in different words and phrases that come to my mind.  Some of the words that pop in my brain include: focused, research, wonderings, collaboration, data, flexible, centered....I could go on. I still feel that I have a lot to learn as I continue this course.  Listening to the interviews of the different principals and superintendents was so beneficial.  It validates that everything we're learning right now, we will use consistently in our work.  I feel like I've dabbled in action inquiry as a teacher and even in my personal life (I just didn't know it had a name).  My first year of teaching, I remember having a student in my class that struggled with reading and I spent many nights pouring over old text books from college and googling different strategies to use with struggling readers.  I'm still trying to decide which of my three ideas from my internship plan I want to focus on for my action research plan...I know my time is running out as Sunday creeps closer and closer. I'm hoping that I can choose an issue that will have the greatest impact on my campus.

Educational Leaders and Blogging.....

     We are 21st century administrators in a world of 21st century learners and parents.  We must adapt our administrative style to fit that of the world we live in today.  We need to utilize tools that were created to make our lives easier.  Blogging is a fantastic way to journal your reflections and thinking and keep track of your learning in an organized way.  We can use the blog to reflect during our action research and look back  and use our older reflections to help shape and guide us as we continue our research. 
     We can also use our blogs to share stories and encourage struggling writers to look at writing as a way to express your thoughts, passions and interests.  It can encourage students to embrace a love of writing and expressing their thoughts. 
     Another way to use blogging as an administrator is to use it as a communicative tool for parents and students to utilize for upcoming events, happenings at school, and important dates.  Parents may not have time to sit an chat with you about what's happening at the school, but if a principal or assistant principal took the time to write a few highlights at the end of each week, it would help parents feel more informed. 
     Administrators could also teach teachers how to use a blog and teachers could create a blog for their classrooms.  Parents always want to know what their children are doing at school and this would be an incredible way for the teacher to show parents what their students are doing and learning at school. 

My new learning on Action Research

     I've learned many new things about action research through my readings this week.  One thing that I've learned about action research is that it is an approach to change that starts with the administrator.  The first step is reflecting on your approach and practice as an administrator and developing a plan of implementation for changes that need to be made.  After recognizing the changes needed to be made, the administrator researches best practices, collaborates and shares new findings and learning with colleagues, continues reflecting on their growth, and implements these changes in their schools.  They reflect on the effectiveness of these changes and seek out ways to consistently uphold these changes and make tweaks as needed to ensure success and, when needed, accountability.  
    I intend on using action research right now as a teacher on a smaller scale in my own classroom.  I will consistently use this blog to reflect on my approach to teaching and forming relationships with my students.  When I see a problem arise I will use the process of action inquiry to help grow me as a professional.  When I become an administrator, I will consistently use action inquiry to ensure I'm helping to maintain an environment that is supportive, encouraging, and positive.  I will consistently reflect on myself as an administrator, and when I feel I'm lacking in a certain area I will utilize my knowledge of action research to better myself as a professional and for the good of the school.