April 1st Update (End of Class 4):

So far I have completed about one third of my Action Research Project.  I met with the 4^th grade teachers to talk to them about my research project, its purpose, and the expectations.  They were all excited about gathering this data, because they are curious if their time spent on this program in helpful.  I asked that they all make sure their students complete atleast two articles per week.  Some teachers are having their students rotate during independent reading time each day, and some teachers are taking their entire class to the computer lab once a week.

 I have collected all of my data on this year’s 4^th graders:  Last year’s beginning-of-year reading levels, last year’s end-of-year reading levels, last year’s STAAR results, and this year’s beginning-of-year reading levels.  As the year comes to an end, I will be able to finish collecting my data (end-of-year reading levels and new STAAR results).  I have spent some time researching the KidBiz program itself, but I would like to research the progress other schools have experienced.  I would also like to interview a principal from a school familiar with working with this program.  After all of my data is gathered, I would like to create a survey to gather teacher feedback.  Finally, I would like to meet with my principal to talk about my findings and our future plans for using the program.  I would also like to share the findings, results, and decision with our staff at our beginning of year staff development before the first day of school next year (August 2013).

Action Research Project Overview (Updated 4/1/13)  Student Use of KidBiz      Through collaboration with my principal, we wondered if the large amount of money spent subscribing to KidBiz was worth it.  Will on-level and above-level readers make significant growth in their reading?  To determine the answer to this question, I will need to collect and compare independent reading levels and STAAR test results from last year and this year and compare the rate of reading growth.  I will also need to meet with 4th grade teachers to ensure that each student is completing at least two articles each week as required by the program.  After meeting with my principal to determine possible candidates, I will interview principals that have used this program on their campus to discuss their experiences.  In addition, I will research the KidBiz program and additional information previously researched by other schools to find more information.  Staff input is very important in building trust in the school, so I will include a survey to find out the staff’s perception on how their students progressed throughout the year.  Finally, I will meet with my principal and reflect on the data gathered to determine whether or not we should spend the large amount of money again next year for our students to continue participating in this program. Goal: To determine whether on and above-level fourth grade readers make significant growth by subscribing to the KidBiz program.  Should we continue to pay for this added resource? Action Step(s) Person(s) Responsible Timeline: Start/End Needed Resources Evaluation 1. Collect student independent reading levels from the beginning of last year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Independent Reading Levels Aug. 2011 The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress. 2. Collect student independent reading levels from the end of last year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Independent Reading Levels May 2012 The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress. 3. Measure and chart reading growth from last year. Me Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Independent Reading Levels from Aug. 2011 and May 2012 The data will be used to compare last year’s growth before KidBiz use to with KidBiz use. 4. Collect individual students’ Reading STAAR  test results from last year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Reading STAAR results from 2012 The data will be used to compare last year’s growth before KidBiz use to with KidBiz use. 5. Collect independent reading levels from the beginning of this year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Independent Reading Levels from Aug. 2012 The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress for the school year and comparing with last year. 6. Research KidBiz program information. Me Jan. 2013- Feb. 2013 Kidbiz3000.com What rate of growth should be expected? 7. Research to see if there is information posted about the success of other schools using this program. Me Jan. 2013- Feb. 2013 Internet search Determine if schools have seen the success rate the program claims. 8. Interview principals that have used this program on their campuses in the past. Me – Ask my principal for suggested principals to interview. Jan. 2013- March 2013 Names of principals that have used this program at their campus. Determine if schools have seen the success rate the program claims. 9. Ensure that students are completing at least 2 KidBiz articles per week. Classroom Teachers Dec. 2013- May 2013 Team Meetings to discuss To ensure the consistency of data from all students. 10. Collect independent reading levels at the end of this year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. May 2013- June 2013 Independent Reading Levels from May 2013 The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress for the school year and comparing with last year. 11. Collect individual STAAR results at the end of this year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. May 2013- June 2013 2013 STAAR results The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress for the school year and comparing with last year. 12. Chart growth from this year. Me June 2013 Independent Reading Levels from Aug. 2012 and May 2013 Determine whether there is significant growth while using the program. 13. Compare this year’s growth to last year’s growth. Me June 2013 All Data Determine whether there is significant growth while using the program. 14. Create a survey on surceymonkey.com to get staff input as to what their feelings were abou the program and the progress their students made. Me May 2013- June  2013 Surveymonkey.com Determine the perception of the staff. 15. Report Findings to Reading Staff Me August 2013 Final Presentation Inform Staff of decision to continue use of KidBiz and reason.

My Action Research Plan!

Goal: To determine whether on and above-level fourth grade readers make significant growth by subscribing to the KidBiz program.  Should we continue to pay for this added resource? Action Step(s) Person(s) Responsible Timeline: Start/End Needed Resources Evaluation 1. Collect student independent reading levels from the beginning of last year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Independent Reading Levels Aug. 2011 The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress. 2. Collect student independent reading levels from the end of last year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Independent Reading Levels May 2012 The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress. 3. Measure and chart reading growth from last year. Me Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Independent Reading Levels from Aug. 2011 and May 2012 The data will be used to compare last year’s growth before KidBiz use to with KidBiz use. 4. Collect individual students’ Reading STAAR  test results from last year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Reading STAAR results from 2012 The data will be used to compare last year’s growth before KidBiz use to with KidBiz use. 5. Collect independent reading levels from the beginning of this year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. Dec. 2012-Jan.2013 Independent Reading Levels from Aug. 2012 The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress for the school year and comparing with last year. 6. Research KidBiz program information. Me Jan. 2013- Feb. 2013 Kidbiz3000.com What rate of growth should be expected? 7. Research to see if there is information posted about the success of other schools using this program. Me Jan. 2013- Feb. 2013 Internet search Determine if schools have seen the success rate the program claims. 8. Interview principals that have used this program on their campuses in the past. Me – Ask my principal for suggested principals to interview. Jan. 2013- March 2013 Names of principals that have used this program at their campus. Determine if schools have seen the success rate the program claims. 9. Ensure that students are completing at least 2 KidBiz articles per week. Classroom Teachers Dec. 2013- May 2013 Team Meetings to discuss To ensure the consistency of data from all students. 10. Collect independent reading levels at the end of this year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. May 2013- June 2013 Independent Reading Levels from May 2013 The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress for the school year and comparing with last year. 11. Collect individual STAAR results at the end of this year. Ask Instructional Specialist for this report. May 2013- June 2013 2013 STAAR results The data will be collected to use in calculating reading progress for the school year and comparing with last year. 12. Chart growth from this year. Me June 2013 Independent Reading Levels from Aug. 2012 and May 2013 Determine whether there is significant growth while using the program. 13. Compare this year’s growth to last year’s growth. Me June 2013 All Data Determine whether there is significant growth while using the program.