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.

Action Research Journey

     As I continued learning about action research inquiry this week, I had the opportunity to watch videos of leaders sharing their experience with action research.  They gave great advice.  One said, “When deciding to conducting research, we need to ask ourselves – Is it going to increase student performance?”  After all, we are in this profession for the students.

     The second leader that impacted my thinking suggested that when problems arise on campus, pull up a report, read, google it, see what other campuses/districts have done when faced with that problem.  “Why reinvent the wheel?”  I love this!  It makes me really feel like anything is possible if we take the time to research and reflect on problems that may arise!

     Next, I focused on the following nine areas that the author of Leading with Passion and Knowledge describes as major wonderings of many school leaders:

1.     Staff development

2.     Curriculum development

3.     Individual teacher(s)

4.     Individual student(s)

5.     School culture/community

6.     Leadership

7.     Management

8.     School performance

9.     Social justice or equity issues

          After reviewing the 9 areas and examples of inquiry wonderings, I met with my site supervisor to discuss a possible action research plan.  Here is what we decided:

           My school is spending money to subscribe to a KidBiz reading intervention program.  My principal  informed me that struggling students at our school receive KidBiz interventions paid for by the district, but it is a big expense for the school to provide this service for every student in grades 2-5.  She suggested that instead of tracking the progress of struggling readers, I track all 4^th grade students throughout the year to see if this is an expense the school wants to continue paying for.  This program tests students’ reading levels to make sure they are always reading news articles that are just right for them.  The students read news articles and take tests over what they read in a STAAR-like format.  As their reading improves, the program automatically adjusts their level to reflect that growth.  Our school is paying for the program this year because they thought it would be a good resource for all students, even the higher readers.  Since so much of a teacher's time is often spent pushing struggling readers to read on grade level, this would give the higher readers extra practice to ensure their reading also continues to grow significantly.  This research would help us to decide if it is an expense we want to continue paying for, so I thought this would be a great idea!  Let the research begin!