Moving Forward With The Action Research Plan

  My plan has remained the same without any changes as of today. As we all know changes can happen at any moment, but that is just the way the ball bounces.

Goal: The targeted 4th grade Title I students will be able to close any math learning gaps by participating in the accelerated intervention math program (VMath).
Outcome: The targeted 4th grade Title I students will close any math learning gaps due to their participation in the accelerated intervention math program and successfully passing the 4th grade Math TAKS Test.

Action Steps Beginning Implementation Modules 1 Whole Number
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Sept. 9,2010 Sept. 30, 2010
Resources Module Booklet 30 minute time slots manipulatives
Procress Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 1
Evaluation Teacher Survey

Action Steps Implementation Modules 2 Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Oct. 1, 2010 Oct. 19, 2010
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives Assessment
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 2 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys Students' Math Grade

Action Steps Implementation Modules 3 Multiplying Whole Numbers
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Nov. 1, 2010 Nov. 19, 2010
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives Assessment
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 3 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys Students' Grades

Action Steps Implementation Module 4 Dividing Whole Numbers
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Nov. 29,2010 Dec. 17, 2010
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 4
Evaluation Teacher Surveys

Action Steps Benchmark 1
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Jan. 4, 2011
Resources Benchmark
Process Monitoring Benchmark
Evaluation Benchmark

Action Steps Implementation Module 5 Decimals
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Jan. 5, 2011 Feb. 2, 2011
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives
Process Monitoring Assessment Pre/Post Test Module 5 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys students' math grade

Action Steps Implementation Module 6 Number Theory
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Feb. 3, 2011 Feb. 24, 2011
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives Assessment
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 6 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys Students' Grades

Action Steps Implementation Module 7 Fractions and Percent
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
TimelineFeb. 25, 2011 March 25, 201
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 7
EvaluationTeacher Surveys

Action StepsImplementationModule 8 Data, Probability, and Statistics
Persons ResponsibleMrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline March 28, 2011 April 18, 2011
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives Assessment
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 8 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys Students' Grades

Action Steps Administer TAKS
Persons Responsible Classroom Teacher
Timeline April 26, 2011 TAKS
Resource TEST TAKS
Process Monitoring Results
Evaluation Results

Action Steps Benchmark 2
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timelines May 15, 2011
Resources Benchmark
Process Monitoring Benchmark
Evaluation Benchmark

Action Steps Sixth six weeks Assessment
Timeline May 25, 2011
Persons Responsible Classroom Teacher
Resources Assessment
Process Monitoring Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher survey Students' grade

I will begin to share my action research plan at the beginning of the year 4th grade level team meeting. Before the official day teachers return to school, the principal calls for grade level team meetings. I am already on the agenda to briefly explain to the 4th grade teachers the reason why this intervention program was purchased and my plan to investigate the impact of the program and any differences it will make on the Title I math TAKS scores. The teachers need to understand the purpose of the study is to analyze the program's effectiveness. If the data proves the program to be an effective intervention program then decisions will be made to continue to budget for the program and to expand it to other grade levels. I will continue to report to the 4th grade teachers and the principal, since the 4th grade team meets every two weeks, I will be on the agenda to report the progress of the program by sharing pre/post test and benchmark data. If teachers would like to discuss their individual students who are participating in the program, another meeting will be set up accordingly. During these meetings, I will also collect any feedback from teachers concerning student performance in the classroom and the teachers will fill out a brief survey.

I will also present my action research plan to the Title I parents during our beginning of the year meeting. It is vital for parents to be aware of the school’s effort in pursuing the best curriculum for their student and that we are dedicated to their student’s success.

During my action research, I will be blogging every step of the way. Blogging allows me to track my thoughts and findings which may spark another inquiry later on. This is a yearlong research project and blogging will help me remember all my steps along the way.

At the conclusion of my action research, I will present a PowerPoint to the Site Based Improvement Committee and invite all stakeholders involved. This presentation will also include any recommendations about the intervention program. This presentation will include background information on the reason why the intervention program was purchased and the importance on researching its effectiveness, explaining the procedures in which this program was conducted throughout the year, the different types of data that was collected, such as, pre/post test, benchmarks, and TAKS scores, showing how the data was analyzed with charts to show students’ growth, and showing through the evidence collected whether or not the intervention program is effective and should continue.

Action Research Plan

Goal: The targeted 4th grade Title I students will be able to close any math learning gaps by participating in the accelerated intervention math program (VMath).


Outcome: The targeted 4th grade Title I students will close any math learning gaps due to their participation in the accelerated intervention math program and successfully passing the 4th grade Math TAKS Test.


Action Steps                   Beginning Implementation Modules 1 Whole Number
Persons Responsible     Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline     Sept. 9,2010 Sept. 30, 2010
Resources  Module Booklet 30 minute time slots manipulatives
Procress Monitoring  Pre/Post Test Module 1
Evaluation Teacher  Survey

Action Steps Implementation Modules 2 Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Oct. 1, 2010 Oct. 19, 2010
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives Assessment
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 2 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys Students' Math Grade

Action Steps Implementation Modules 3 Multiplying Whole Numbers
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Nov. 1, 2010 Nov. 19, 2010
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives  Assessment
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 3 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys Students' Grades


Action Steps Implementation Module 4 Dividing Whole Numbers
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Nov. 29,2010 Dec. 17, 2010
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots  manipulatives
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 4
Evaluation Teacher Surveys

Action Steps Benchmark 1
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Jan. 4, 2011
Resources Benchmark
Process Monitoring Benchmark
Evaluation Benchmark

Action Steps Implementation Module 5 Decimals
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Jan. 5, 2011 Feb. 2, 2011
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives
Process Monitoring Assessment Pre/Post Test Module 5 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys students' math grade

Action Steps Implementation Module 6 Number Theory
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline Feb. 3, 2011 Feb. 24, 2011
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives  Assessment
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 6  Six week  Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys Students' Grades

Action Steps Implementation Module 7 Fractions and Percent
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
TimelineFeb. 25, 2011 March 25, 2011
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 7
EvaluationTeacher  Surveys

Action StepsImplementationModule 8 Data, Probability, and Statistics
Persons ResponsibleMrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timeline March 28, 2011 April 18, 2011
Resources Module Booklets 30 minute time slots manipulatives Assessment
Process Monitoring Pre/Post Test Module 8 Six week Assessment
Evaluation Teacher Surveys Students' Grades

Action Steps Administer TAKS
Persons Responsible Classroom Teacher
Timeline April 26, 2011 TAKS
Resource TEST TAKS
Process Monitoring Results
Evaluation Results

Action Steps Benchmark 2
Persons Responsible Mrs. Sherman Mrs. Rieger
Timelines May 15, 2011
Resources Benchmark
Process Monitoring Benchmark
Evaluation Benchmark

Action Steps Sixth six weeks Assessment
Timeline May 25, 2011
Persons Responsible Classroom Teacher
Resources Assessment
Process Monitoring Six week Assessment 
Evaluation Teacher survey  Students' grade

I will begin to share my action research plan at the beginning of the year 4th grade level team meeting. Before the official day teachers return to school, the principal calls for grade level team meetings. I am already on the agenda to briefly explain to the 4th grade teachers the reason why this intervention program was purchased and my plan to investigate the impact of the program and any differences it will make on the Title I math TAKS scores. The teachers need to understand the purpose of the study is to analyze the program's effectiveness. If the data proves the program to be an effective intervention program then decisions will be made to continue to budget for the program and to expand it to other grade levels. I will continue to report to the 4th grade teachers and the principal, since the 4th grade team meets every two weeks, I will be on the agenda to report the progress of the program by sharing pre/post test and benchmark data. If teachers would like to discuss their individual students who are participating in the program, another meeting will be set up accordingly. During these meetings, I will also collect any feedback from teachers concerning student performance in the classroom and the teachers will fill out a brief survey.


I will also present my action research plan to the Title I parents during our beginning of the year meeting. It is vital for parents to be aware of the school’s effort in pursuing the best curriculum for their student and that we are dedicated to their student’s success.

During my action research, I will be blogging every step of the way. Blogging allows me to track my thoughts and findings which may spark another inquiry later on. This is a yearlong research project and blogging will help me remember all my steps along the way.

At the conclusion of my action research, I will present a PowerPoint to the Site Based Improvement Committee and invite all stakeholders involved. This presentation will also include any recommendations about the intervention program. This presentation will include background information on the reason why the intervention program was purchased and the importance on researching its effectiveness, explaining the procedures in which this program was conducted throughout the year, the different types of data that was collected, such as, pre/post test, benchmarks, and TAKS scores, showing how the data was analyzed with charts to show students’ growth, and showing through the evidence collected whether or not the intervention program is effective and should continue.

Lesson Learned About Action Research

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My greatest lesson learned about action research consists of making  it  practical to you and your environment. This makes perfectly good sense. It seems to me that if the research affects you personally, then you are probably going to take it to heart because it involves you and your students. It will make you be a better teacher in the long run. Plus, there is nothing wrong in reading different action research results from other school districts. Even though it does not fit your needs exactly there are always bits and pieces that can be extracted from it that you could use.

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Math Action Research

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I have decided to pursue an action research on the impact of a new 4th grade Title I remediation math program (Voyager) and any differences it will have on the math TAKS scores. Hopefully, this program will allow the Title I students to show growth in their math skills. I am very excited about the new program. The students who qualifies for Title I Math are the ones who failed the third grade Math TAKS test in April. All throughout the program there are Pre and Post Tests for each module that is covered. I'll be posting the results during every module.

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Educational Leaders and Blogs

As an educator, I have to admit blogging is extremely new for me, but it has now become my favorite hobby. There are so many ways in which educational leaders can use blogs that my mind is exploding. To begin with, educational leaders could sharpen their communication skills by reading blogs, reflecting about them, and then responding to them. Responding to blogs is very important because it gives you the opportunity to share your experiences with others, and to state your opinions. It gives leaders a chance to reach out for help when experiencing problems. Like the old saying, "Two heads are better than one" think about how many heads you get when you blog. Blogging opens the door for a huge networking system between educational leaders that would be hard to form without it.

Action Research

Image via Wikipedia

I have learned that action research can occur in several different educational settings. One teacher has the capability to conduct an action research to solve a problem that is occurring in the classroom, such as, classroom management, effective teaching strategies, or parent involvement. There could be a team of teachers on the same grade level or department wanting to research a common problem, such as, curriculum, student learning, or effective materials. Action research could also be carried out by a team of teachers and principals focusing on a school-wide problem, such as, parental involvement or problems dealing with students' performances on state mandated tests. Now that I have this knowledge on action research, I can see its endless use applied at my own school. In my own classroom, I could conduct an action research which would deal with parent involvement. I am a 4th grade Special Education and it is difficult for me to inspire my parents to participate more in their child's learning. This action research would help me gain knowledge of my own parental involvement strategies that I am now using because these strategies are not effective. The third and fourth grade teachers could utilize action research to help analyze why the math scores on the TAKS test have been faltering the last several years. This would enable the teachers to open up the communciation lines between grade levels. Hopefully this coming school year my school will undertake an action research project.

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