Draft Action Research Project Progress Report

Week 3 Assignment, Part 3

Draft Action Research Project Progress Report

Will differentiated instruction improve students’ academic progress across all achievement gaps and sub-groups in the elementary classroom setting?

My principal and I chose this action research topic because of data taken from benchmark test scores of students in second grade and in classroom observations.  During observations in second grade classrooms, it was noted that many teacher were not using differentiated instruction correctly or effectively in their classrooms.  Students in sub-groups had lower test score on benchmarks and academic class work in second grade than other grade levels and campuses that used differentiated instruction effectively.  When we spoke with the teachers on the second grade team they agreed with our findings.  In the book Leading and Managing a Differentiated Classroom it states that it is a teachers role to create a learning community that respects individual differences.  The book states that the teacher must accommodate content, purpose and the learners needs (INTASC, 1992) (Tomlinson, 2010, pg 5) These requirements can be met through differentiated instruction.

            This school year I have inquired information through data collection, teacher meetings and observation.  We collected data by taking benchmark tests.  The first test was taken as a baseline before implementing changes in the classrooms. Then we gave students two additional tests through out the year while implementing effective differentiated instruction.  In addition to data collection, I met with teachers each month to discuss effective differentiated instruction and problem solve any issues in the classroom.  Finally, I was able to come into the classroom and observe teachers and provide an extra set of eyes to help teachers become more effective in their classroom. From the data I was able to learn that students benchmark scores changed minimally.  I was unable to see a large amount of change and would like to take more data during the next school year.  I did see a larger increase in test scores in some classrooms and data showed a decrease in one classroom.  I feel that data was impacted because of uncontrollable environmental factors. 

            This year, I plan to take data in the beginning on the ways teachers teach and take information on teachers willingness to implement differentiated instruction,  Also, this will provide me with more baseline information.  This will allow for better data to be taken throughout the year on sub-groups.  I felt that this past school year was a great learning experience on how to take effective data and how different factors can change data.  It is hard to control settings to have accurate data.  This year, our campus' vision will be to improve students academic progress through the use of differentiated instruction through all sub groups.

I plan to give my first benchmark test on the forth week of school.  I would like to see the average scores of each subgroup raise by 10% for each benchmark test.  During this time I will chart teachers usage of differentiated instruction.

            During monthly meetings with teachers we would discuss any issues or concerns with implementing differentiated instruction.  If supplies are needed I would provide budget forms to be filled out to help with the cost of items.  We spend time during the meetings discussing responsibilities and who will take care of concerns and issues.  If there is ever a concern with student safety it would be given the highest priority and differentiated instruction is a practice that shows student learning is important.

I will communicate with staff, parents, students and community member about my action research project by having meetings, posting strategies on letters and websites, and having open communication.  First I will meet with teachers and staff during conference times and staff meetings.  During those times we will discuss the importance of the vision and ways that they are/can use it in their classrooms.  I plan to attend a PTO meeting and provide literature on ways to use differentiated instruction not only at school, but at home. 

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References

Tomlinson, C.A. (2010). Leading and Managing A Differentiated Classroom. Leading a Differentiated Classroom,1, 1-11.

Action Research Revisions

My New Question:

Will increasing differentiated instruction practices in second grade classrooms improve students' academic progress in math for all sub-groups?

I meet on Tuesday, December 14, to finalize my timeline for the project. I will post my timeline on Wednesday.

Action Research Plan

Will differentiated instruction improve students’ academic progress across all achievement gaps and sub-groups in the elementary classroom setting?
Action Steps	Persons Responsible	Timeline	Needed Resources
1.  Survey teachers, staff, and parents	Self	Feb 20th	Survey and contact information
2. Research Articles	Self	March 10th	Articles, websites, and academic journals
3. Gather Data	Self	April 1st	Report cards, discipline referrals, Student work samples and individual test scores.
4. Analyze/ Compare Data	Self	April 15th	report cards, student work samples and discipline referrals
5. Finalize Report	Self	May 10th	Survey, research data and analysis

How I will share my research plan

There are four critical tasks you must perform when you share your research plan. These are (1) providing background information, (2) Procedures, data collection and data analysis, (3) Supporting the statements with data, (4) providing concluding thoughts.

The background to my topic began with statewide and nationwide concerns over students’ lack of progress in improving achievement gaps. Looking for motivational strategies, I decided to take a look at the benefits of different forms of differentiated instruction, something so simple that it can be done in an everyday setting, yet effective enough to make strides in achievement. Students are learners of various avenues and the better we can understand their educational motives, the better we as educators can promote their success.

My action research plan begins with surveying parents, staff, and students on their opinions if differentiated instruction changes a student’s performance in the classroom, regardless of ethnic or economic background.  I will gather data from various professional resources. I will also take a look at student report cards and discipline files. All of this data will be collective and analyzed to take a look at the relation between instruction types and student progress and performance.

This research will provide students, teachers, and administrators a better understanding of various avenues for student involvement. It can also provide parents information to help their children find teachers activities that interest them so they are more willing to stay motivated.

We want them to succeed but sometimes we try to make them conform to our teaching styles rather than try and understand their learning styles. If educators understood students’ motives and students understood the teachers’ motives then hopefully everyone could achieve success by working toward a common goal, vision, and mission. I feel that by actually differentiating all forms of instruction, whether it be in the special or general education classroom, we can help students succeed not only in school but in life as well, regardless of their upbringing, race, or social status.

What I've Learned in Week 2

This week I learned about the importance of action research.  I listened to three interviews about how action research has impacted and is used in different school districts.  The most valuable things that I learned this week were that it is important to be practical and relevant with your action research and that research can be used by the whole district for many different reasons.  This information really made me look at action research in a new way and it helped me understand how valuable research truly is in education.

How Educational Leaders Could Use Blogs

I feel that blogs could be very useful in the field of education. Educational leaders could use blogs to inform and become better informed. 

For example, a leader could use blogs as a way to express how much they value their staff.  It would be very moving and creative to see a leader use a blog to commend his or her staff.  I would love to see a blog at my school that bragged on the teachers.  I would like to be better informed of the great accomplishments of other staff members.   Many times we only hear about the accomplishments of our own team.  Also, it would make the staff member feel special and valued as an educator. 

In addition to a feel good, brag blog, it would be great for educational leaders to have a blog about professional development.  I know in my district professional development is said to be very important, but important events are missed many times due to lack of communication.  Having a specific place for leaders to post this information would be very helpful.  Also, the staff could post comments about the quality of certain trainings and they could post information about what they learned.

What I have Learned About Action Research

I have already learned many things about what action research truly is and how it may be useful in my professional career.  Action research can be a very effective tool for someone in a leadership position, such as an administrator.  Most forms of educational research just lean towards identifying or diagnosing a problem, whereas action research is more of an immediate sight and solution.  This is because the act of finding your solution makes you understand your practice better – not only what you are doing, but also the factors that affect what you do. Action research therefore has two aspects: The starting point is to sort out a problem or issue in practice; to this extent an action researcher seeks a solution. But the process can also be used as a deliberate attempt to understand practice better – a traditional research attitude. What is most important in both approaches is that you are open, honest and rigorous. The aim of an action researcher is to bring about development in his or her practice by analyzing existing practice and identifying elements for change. The process is founded on the gathering of evidence on which to make informed rather than intuitive judgments and decisions. Perhaps the most important aspect of action research is that the process enhances teachers’ professional development through the fostering of their capability as professional knowledge makers, rather than simply as professional knowledge users.   Action research can help teachers and administrators feel in control of their own professional situation.  Having a more inside-out point of view can help an administrator take the practices that they are weaker in and immediately change them for the good.