Week 5 reflection

I am excited to say that I have completed all of the coursework for this class. It is nice to know that I am finished with the 2nd class!  I love the feeling of being done!  (Yes, I am aware that that is not grammatically correct)  I feel that this course was full of reflection and lots of information everywhere.  I hope that the knowledge that has been acquired will guide me in my completion of the action research plan.  I know I am one of the worst blog people.  I don't remember to check mine, and I don't do well at remembering to check other people's.  I suppose that if it isn't a part of my routine, it is hard to add it.  I know other people have the same issue.  Plus, it's AUGUST!!!  Non teacher friends don't understand why August and May are crazy,  but I know my classmates get it!  Now to focus on my kids.  I have two 3 year old daughters that are going to school for the first time ever!  I don't know how I am going to do, but I know it is going to be hard.  My son starts 1st grade, but I see him everyday.  My girls will be at a different school in a program for teacher's kids.  I won't be able to see them or check on them or know their teachers.  AHHH! 

Good luck in your next class and with the start of school!

Revised Action Research Plan

Here is the updated version of my action research plan.  There were not many changes, but I did list the district curriculum to my resources, and I added the compilation and presentation of my findings to the bottom of the plan.  I feel that as I begin working on the plan, it will be easier to make changes as needed.  I did look at the comments that were made, and I made note of them.  At this time I am keeping most them in my reflection log to decide how to implement them when the time come.  Thank you so much for your suggestions and comments.  I reflected on each one fully.

Goal: How can aligning the curriculum and focusing on the supporting and readiness standards improve the effectiveness of kindergarten through second grade teachers at Chandler Oaks Elementary School?
Action Step(s)	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Review the scores on the STAAR test for grades 3-5.  Analyze the data looking for trends.  Determine which standards are in need of improvement.	Ebony Morehead   Leadership team	July 2013- August 2013	STAAR scores List of standards by grade level	The team will document the results in minutes from meeting.
2. Compare results from the data gathered with the supporting and readiness standards for grades K-2.  Determine which standards need to be focused on in these grade levels.	Ebony Morehead   Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers	August 2013	STAAR scores List of standards by grade level	Each grade level will create a list of standards that need to be focused on.
3. Survey teachers on their knowledge of these standards and their comfort level in teaching these standards.	Ebony Morehead	August 2013	Survey monkey   K-2nd grade teachers	The results from the survey will be documented
4. Use the list of standards to align curriculum within the primary grade levels.  Sample lessons will be created, as well as including common vocabulary that will be used across the grade levels.	Ebony Morehead   Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers.	August 2013-September 2013	List of standards that need to be focused on Internet access for lesson ideas Instructional coach District curriculum	A document will be created with the vocabulary and with the lessons that will be used to teach the aligned curriculum
5.  Teachers will follow the new curriculum in order to teach the standards that are being focused on.	Ebony Morehead   Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers.	September 2013 May 2014	The created curriculum	Lesson plans will reflect the use of the curriculum
6.  Teachers will be surveyed to determine how the new curriculum has affected their knowledge and comfort level in effectively teaching the standards.	Ebony Morehead	May 2014	Survey monkey   K-2nd grade teachers	The results of the survey will be recorded.

Action Research Plan

Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template

Goal: How can aligning the curriculum and focusing on the supporting and readiness standards improve the effectiveness of kindergarten through second grade teachers at Chandler Oaks Elementary School?
Action Step(s)	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Review the scores on the STAAR test for grades 3-5.  Analyze the data looking for trends.  Determine which standards are in need of improvement.	Ebony Morehead   Leadership team	July 2013- August 2013	STAAR scores List of standards by grade level	The team will document the results in minutes from meeting.
2. Compare results from the data gathered with the supporting and readiness standards for grades K-2.  Determine which standards need to be focused on in these grade levels.	Ebony Morehead   Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers	August 2013	STAAR scores List of standards by grade level	Each grade level will create a list of standards that need to be focused on.
3. Survey teachers on their knowledge of these standards and their comfort level in teaching these standards.	Ebony Morehead	August 2013	Survey monkey   K-2nd grade teachers	The results from the survey will be documented
4. Use the list of standards to align curriculum within the primary grade levels.  Sample lessons will be created, as well as including common vocabulary that will be used across the grade levels.	Ebony Morehead   Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers.	August 2013-September 2013	List of standards that need to be focused on Internet access for lesson ideas Instructional coach	A document will be created with the vocabulary and with the lessons that will be used to teach the aligned curriculum
5.  Teachers will follow the new curriculum in order to teach the standards that are being focused on.	Ebony Morehead   Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers.	September 2013 May 2014	The created curriculum	Lesson plans will reflect the use of the curriculum
6.  Teachers will be surveyed to determine how the new curriculum has affected their knowledge and comfort level in effectively teaching the standards.	Ebony Morehead	May 2014	Survey monkey   K-2nd grade teachers	The results of the survey will be recorded.

Week 2 Reflection

Upon completing the course work for Week 2, I feel that I have crammed a lot of knowledge into my head.  I felt that it was helpful to look at the action research project in the eyes of the 9 different categories.  I thought that it was interesting to think of examples in each area and why each area is important.  I went into this week thinking that my action research project was going to be about school performance, but I am now thinking that it is more about curriculum development.  This perspective is going to impact my method of approach with this research.  What a week!

Action Research

Yesterday we had an all day leadership meeting, that may or may not have ended at a local establishment serving adult beverages.  During this meeting, I had the opportunity to discuss my action research project.  There were two other people there who had just completed their own action research project (through a different university).  My principal talked to me about how she felt that I could built a research project around helping the primary (K-2) grades develop a plan of attack to help improve the future scores on the STAAR test.  I think that this would be a very beneficial project.  Our school was also given an instructional coach for the next school year who will be on our campus four days a week (the district has several on hand that get to most schools).  She just completed her principal certification through Lamar, so she is excited about helping me.  We are planning to work together (she will be working on the grades 3-5) to develop the school wide plan.  My task is to now find the wording to make this a question that warrants an entire year of study.  My principal also gave me some other wonderful opportunities, such as being a part of planning the new behavior plan for the school and developing a reward type system for encouraging attendance and punctuality!  I am going to be so busy the next few weeks getting those things together.  Especially since I had to move my classroom, and all of my things are in boxes as I type! 

How can educational leaders use blogs?

Blogs can be useful for educational leaders.  Reading and reflecting on the thoughts of others can help give a person a different perspective on something.  It also gives an educational leader the opportunity to learn about what others are dealing with, and sometimes helps give a sense of camaraderie in a lonely profession.  We can learn and bond with others through sharing experiences. 
An educational leader can also benefit from reading the comments that others have made on our posts.  Sometimes a pair of fresh eyes can give a new idea to help spark change or inspiration.  Blogging is the new way to build community among a group of people that otherwise would never know each other.

What is action research?

Through our reading this week, I have discovered a new approach called action research.  This is an interesting process that helps anyone improve or solve a problem in their life or career.  We are specifically learning about action research from a principal's perspective in this course, so I will focus my post on that aspect of action research.  Principals are faced with many challenges everyday in their schools.  Sometimes a problem can be a small one that requires a few minutes of thought and then action.  Other times the problem is one that involves taking big steps for change.  A principal should take time during their day to reflect upon the issues within their school. As a result of the reflection, there will no doubt be an issue that stands out.  The principal should focus on that issue and form a question worthy of an in depth research.  The first step is to go out and learn as much as possible about that topic.  Take all the information and use it to guide the action.  The principal must reflect regularly throughout the entire process to ensure they are moving forward and collecting evidence.  Action research is not complete without a proper reflection. 

My name is Ebony Morehead.  I am currently enrolled as a graduate student at Lamar University.  My ultimate goal is to become a school principal.  I currently teach kindergarten, and I just completed my tenth year as an educator.  I live with my husband, Dave, our three kids, Xander (6), Alexis (3), and Jayden (3).  We have three dogs, Bella, Scarlet, and Paco. 
This blog will follow my journey as I complete my action research project.