EDLD 5397 web conference

The web conference was very informative this week.  Dr. Borel really helped by listing all the assignments that are due by the end of the course and reviewed the TK20 artifacts that need to be attached.  The APA practice was great.  It really helped to practice the different citations.  Classroom practice is something we often miss out on when taking an on-line course.  It was like sitting in a classroom.

Research Project Update EDLD 5326

I have been working on my research project on motivating low socio-economic learners since November 2012.  In November I met with 3^rd -5^th grade teachers.  I presented an overview of the project to them.  I asked the teachers to identify 5 students in their homerooms that they think would do better if they could motivate them.  I gave them a timeline of the project and told them to bring the names of the students to the next meeting.  In December we discussed different types of motivation that are used in the school and that they use in their classrooms.  Some of the things listed were: candy, extra recess, homework passes, stickers, and making the learning pertain to real life.  We discussed the fact that these incentives work for the short term but not the long run.  In January we met, and I introduced the first strategy.  Based on the research that I have done, I found that making a connection with students is the best way to motivate learners.  We discussed ways to begin to do this with our students.  We decided to try to accept them where they are, find time to meet with them to get to know about their lives outside the classroom.  The teachers also decided to try to do class meetings each Monday with their students.  They will use a Quality Quadrant throughout the week to help guide the meetings.  In February we met to discuss how the strategies are going so far.  Some of the teachers reported having some success with the strategies.  A few of the teachers took the time to attend their students’ sporting events on the weekend.  They reported that the students were more willing to work in the classroom after.  In March we met to discuss a new strategy.  The strategy was goal setting.  We discussed setting short term goals (weekly) in areas that needed improvement.  We also discussed looking at setting some iLEAP and LEAP goals for testing next month.  We have not had any huge jumps in motivation, but have seen some small successes. 

Week 4 of EDLD 5301

I am very happy to say that my action research plan won the approval of my administrator.  She did not ask me to make any revisions.  I am sure though that as I begin working through my plan I will make revisions.  Thank you for all the comments!  Week 5 here we come!!

Action Plan

Action Planning Template

Goal:  To increase effectiveness of teacher actions to motivate the learning of low socio-economic students.

Action Steps(s)	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline:  Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1.  Interview 3rd, 4th , and 5th grade teachers.	Julie Sittig 3rd, 4th, 5th grade teachers	December 2012-September 2013	Student information, rosters, gradebooks, behavior reports.	Identify students to target
2. Collect and analyze data of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students in low socio-economic subgroups.	Julie Sittig 3rd, 4th, 5th grade teachers	December 2012-September 2013	ITBS scores, iLEAP scores, LEAP scores, Scantron data, STAR reading/math data	Complete data tracking charts
3.Interview students	Julie Sittig 3rd, 4th, 5th grade teachers	December 2012	3rd, 4th, 5th grade students in low socio-economic subgroups	Complete survey questions
4.Share research on motivating students with teachers	Julie Sittig 3rd, 4th, 5th grade teachers	January 2013	The Motivated Student: Unlocking the Enthusiasm for Learning, Activating the Desire to learn	Student observations, student work
5.Reflect/revise	Julie Sittig 3rd, 4th, 5th grade teachers	January 2013-May 2013	The Motivated Student: Unlocking the Enthusiasm for Learning, Activating the Desire to learn	Student observations, student work
6.  Study data	Leadership Team	June 2012	ileap data, leap data	2012-2013 iLEAP data, LEAP data
7.  Share results/strategies with teachers.	Julie Sittig 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th grade teachers.	September 2013	action plan strategies/results	2012-2013 iLEAP data, LEAP data

My Action Research Project

This week I learned that I need to include data and collaboration in my plan.  I also learned there is no need to reinvent the wheel :).  I can look at how similar campuses have addressed the problem of motivation and use it in my project.   I have decided to focus my project on how to motivate low socio-economic subgroups in my school.  Wish me luck!

Action Research

When I originally started thinking of action research from an administrator's point of view, I thought it was a ridiculous idea.  I thought the administrators at my school are too busy to try and do action research.  Now, that I have learned the meaning of action research however, I see that it is already being done on my campus by my principal and assistant principals.  I serve on the leadership team at my school.  We study data, study the effectiveness of current programs, and come up with ways to meet the current needs of the students and teachers at our schools.  We also have professional learning communities (PLCs).  These communities meet to discuss data, trends, procedures, and strategies.  I have always hated parish wide professional development.  We would sit in these meetings and some would get something they could use and others would not.  Those responsible for choosing the professional development did not take into account the needs of their audience.  Action research provides for focused professional development based on the needs of individual administrators, teachers, and schools.

Blogs may be used by administrators as a part of action research.  Participants of the action research can blog their reflections on the specific need.  They can track their progress in implementing the change as well as what is effective or ineffective.  Blogs can save time.  Blogs allow participants to exchange information without having to have a face to face meeting.