Other Blogs Put on Wrong Blog Site

PLEASE USE MY HTTP://rhondatylerlamar univeristy.blogspot.com The one you posted on is not the one for my classes from LAMAR? Rhonda, I was finally able to find you:) You have a solid action research plan. I was just wondering if you have tools and resources in place for reteaching and for those students that are not on target? I look forward to your findings. Good luck with everything on Action Research Plan Publish | Delete | Spam	Felicia Runnels	on 9/22/12
	Rhonda, I was finally able to find you:) You have a solid action research plan. I was just wondering if you have tools and resources in place for reteaching and for those students that are not on target? I look forward to your findings. Good luck with everything. on Action Research Plan Publish | Delete | Spam	Felicia Runnels	on 9/22/12
	I also am worried about getting good information from other teachers and things done in a timely manner. If you have any suggestion about how to request that information without seeming pushy please share with me. on Foreseen or Unforeseen Challenges to My Action Research Project Publish | Delete | Spam	Kylene Skipworth	on 9/21/12
	I like your plan, especially the three day notice. I am a coach too that is very busy. I am interested in the results from the plan. on Foreseen or Unforeseen Challenges to My Action Research Project Publish | Delete | Spam	Jared Smith	on 9/21/12
	I like your plan. I am a coach too that is very busy these days. I like the three day notice is a great idea. I am interested in your results. on Foreseen or Unforeseen Challenges to My Action Research Project Publish | Delete | Spam	Jared Smith	on 9/21/12
	It seems that you have thought of many ways to be prepared with an answer. I am glad that your football coach is going to let other coaches be late to practice. We have a new AD and he seems more flexible, in the past there have been some that see nothing but football. Best of luck in your research and getting everyone on board and in a timely manner. on Foreseen or Unforeseen Challenges to My Action Research Project Publish | Delete | Spam	LaDonna Voelkel	on 9/20/12
	It seems that you have thought of many ways to be prepared with an answer. I am glad that your football coach is going to let other coaches be late to practice. We have a new AD and he seems more flexible, in the past there have been some that see nothing but football. Best of luck in your research and getting everyone on board and in a timely manner. on Foreseen or Unforeseen Challenges to My Action Research Project Publish | Delete | Spam	LaDonna Voelkel

ARP Blog from Nicole DiLuglio

Rhonda- I enjoy reading your thoughts on the Lamar discussion board and your blog. You are very thoughtful and thorough with your submissions. Your action research project is quite similar to mine. I am looking at how to identify students who need interventions before they take the EOCs in Bio, Chem, Alg I, and Geometry. I am interested to hear how you are collecting and analyzing the data. Do the teachers make their own unit tests or do they come from the district? One question that I had for you-will you also look at strategies developed to help students improve. In one post I saw that, but then your plan only stated information about analyzing data. I am interested in how you are planning to study successful strategies for pulling those scores up. on Action Research Plan Publish | Delete | Spam I am just looking at the data right now.  We have new procedures already in place for this year.  We did tutorials one week prior to the STAAR..each WG teacher took a specific TEK and drilled students on that TEK.  They went from class to class every 30 minutes to be drilled on the new TEKS.  Scores weren't stellar so we are seeing if keeping them in our own classes will be more beneficial.  A lot of students did not like going to another teacher's class for tutorials.

Nicole DiLuglio

Agreed Upon Action Research Project by Mr. Hill

During our meeting this week at school on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 with Mr. Hill, my site supervisor, we discussed the importance my collecting the data through my action research project was to our school and to him personally.  By collecting data on three major testing modalities, Unit Tests, Content Based Assessments (CBAs) and the End of Year Course Exams (EOCs) for both the fall semester 2012 and the spring semester 2013 it should give us a pretty good idea on whether or not the students have mastered key concepts, ideas and skills for the STAAR test spring 2013.  He mentioned again that our school’s AYP dropped for the second year in a row, this being his first year as head principal.

He expressed his appreciation that World Geography took the lead last year and designed comprehensive Unit Tests for our students and collected the data to see how well they were doing in preparation for the new STAAR test.  Even though our scores dropped from a 99.7% on the TAKS to an 86.4 on the STAAR, most of our students passed and he was pleased but stressed that this year will be the year for improvement.  By collecting this data through my ARP I am confident that our student’s scores will increase.  Fortunately, we both agree that the first two Unit Tests and CBAs will tell if we are going in the right direction and if not, we have time to correct the issues that will cause scores not to increase in time.  He also stressed that by collecting this data not only for our current students, it will benefit our future World Geography students as well.

Mr. Hill stated that by keeping a close eye on the data on all three testing modalities through analysis and reflection, we should have a pretty good indication of how well our students will do on the STAAR spring 2013.  He fully intends to take an active part in taking a close look at this data as it comes in as well.  He stressed the importance of getting the data recorded in a timely manner and submitted to him.  I assured him I would.  He loves the idea that I am not tackling this huge project on by myself and that the whole World Geography Team is working cooperatively and collaboratively together in collecting, analyzing and offering workable solutions to potential issues that may arise.  He stated he would love to see all the departments working this closely together very soon as well.

Mr. Hill chose not to change anything on my Action Research Plan as to date.  He did state, that as time goes by and if he sees anything he would like me to include, he would get with me to discuss any changes to my ARP.

PLEASE POST YOURS AND I WILL COMMENT AS WELL.

Foreseen or Unforeseen Challenges to My Action Research Project

Foreseen and unforeseen challenges in implementing my action research study could include:
1.  World Geography Team Members failure to input required data in a timely manner for analyzation and reflection.
2.  Lack of flexibility of World Geography Team Members who are coaches in making all the required PLC meetings during football season.
3.  Lack of flexibility in meeting with principal due to any unforeseen incidents arising,
I plan to address these three challenges in the following manner:
1.  I will email and speak to personally all my World Geography Team Members about the mandatory requirement by administration to get all data input within the timeframe provided so that analysis and reflection and/or corrections can be made in a timely manner.
2.  I will be contacting the Head Football Coach and expressing my appreciation for his willingness to relieve the World Geography coaches for our PLC meetings once a week.  I will also send an email out three days prior to the PLC meeting and one day prior to the PLC meeting to the Head Football Coach and World Geography coaches.
3.  I will compile a list of questions and possible solutions to challenges that came up at the PLC meetings for my principal and email them to him.  I will give him adequate time to respond with his suggestions and reflections.  I will follow through with personal visit, be it informally or formally depending on his situation, and arranging a time that we could possibly meet to discuss any suggestions he may have for me.

Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal:
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1.Align End of Course (EOC) to State Standards and TEKS	Rhonda Tyler, World Geography Team and Data Coach	September 2012 through December 2012	EOC tests, State Standards and TEKS	Increased Student Performance and Scores for 3 sub groups in school: ESL, 504, and Special Education
2. Align Content Based Assessments (CBA) to State Standards and TEKS	Rhonda Tyler, World Geography Team, District World Geography Supervisor	September 2012 through December 2012	CBA  tests, State Standards and TEKS	Increased Student Performance and Scores for 3 sub groups in school: ESL, 504, and Special Education
3. Align Unit Tests to State Standards and TEKS	Rhonda Tyler, World Geography Team	September 2012 through December 2012	Unit Tests, State Standards and TEKS	Increased Student Performance and Scores for 3 sub groups in school: ESL, 504, and Special Education

Action Research Plan

The context of my study will be the decline in scores on the STAAR test from previous year’s TAKS test by socio-economically deprived and ESL students.  I will conduct my research by gathering Unit Tests data, End of Course Exams and Content Based Assessment data from all my World Geography teachers with the purpose of seeing if all state mandates and TEKS were followed in preparation for the STAAR test in the spring of 2013.  All 9^th grade World Geography students at my school, whether they are in a regular classroom setting or taking World Geography from Credit Recovery for 2012-2013 will be my target population.   Of greater concern, and the rationale behind choosing my sample, is whether or not the lower socio-economically deprived and ESL students will perform minimally to the recognized expectations levels on the STAAR test.

The selection of my sample was pre-set by Mr. James Hill, my Principal.  The rationale used in our discussions when deciding on a sample lie in the fact that the World Geography socio-economically deprived and ESL students’ decline in STAAR scores as compared to the previous year’s TAKS scores.  We have programs and protocols in place to succeed on these tests, however, scores continue to decline.

We are experiencing a transition year in testing and realize how important building a solid foundation in World Geography Core Curriculum is for our campus through our Unit Tests, EOCs and CBAs in preparation for the STAAR test.

Importance of Action Research

Action Research is definately the key to being a successful leader in a school. Whether you are a teacher-leader or administrator-leader action research affords you the opportunity to better yourself as well as those who rely upon your leadership. I am amazed at the amount of materials available for one to research on just how-to-be- a more productive and successful leader. After viewing the videos from this weeks lesson I am energized to read more so that I may do more for my school as a teacher-leader and all those skills I am developing will help me be a more effective administrator.

Action Research Project

My action research project assigned by my mentor, Mr. Hill, this week will be addressing how to improve scores on the World Geography Unit Tests in preparation for the End of Course Exams and the uncoming STAAR test in the Spring. This action research will encompass the entire World Geography faculty and World Geography students. This type of collaborative action research project is essential in moving us forward to an academically advanced school.

I believe, as Mr. Hill does, that this type of in-depth action research is highly significant and important to raising student's scores, the school's AYP as well presenting an open forum for collaborative learning and teaching by all stakeholders.

We will be doing an in-depth analysis of student's scores, past and present in our World Geography Professional Learning Community weekly meeting. We will identify the questions/concepts not being mastered and readjust our teaching methodologies to ensure mastery. This type of action research and analysis presents a win-win situation for students, faculty and administrators and encourages all to be life- long learners. We actually finished our first Unit I test analysis 9-5-12 and readjusted the test to reach the 70% mark for higher order thinking skills level testing. I believe if we put the challenge out there for the students, give them the tools to be successful they will arise to the challenge and succeed at levels higher than they ever imagined. Win-win!

The second action research topic that was discussed with Mr. Hill this past week concerned the Dress Code Violations at school. The administration had an assembly the first day of school to address the Dress Code for the district and there was some booing. There is the real issue, disrespect for rules and authority and that is a an issue of culture for the school, not school culture. The teachers are now called into the office if a student gets by from class to class with a Dress Code Violation without being sent to the office. He, like I agree, the teachers are an administrative arm and they need to enforce the rules as well. He and I will see if teacher reprimands increase in the next few weeks or if students begin to abide by the Dress Code more readily. When instruction time is cut for the students because they are sitting in the office, then learning does not take place. It is a disruption for all concerned.

The third area we discussed was improving communications between the Special Ed Department and the teachers who have students with disabilities, whether they are mental, physical or emotional, in our classes. Case in point, Thursday night at Open House a parent walked up to me and blurted out, “why aren’t you abiding by my son’s IEP? There were seven other parents there as well. It is the end of the second week of school and I did not have an IEP on her son. She proceeds to pull out a note written by him with nine IEP requirements that I was not fulfilling. I simply stated that I did not have any paperwork on her son and apologized for it not being in my files. She proceeded to take up 5 minutes with her son’s complaints. After she calmed down I told her she could be rest assured that I would have his paperwork by 8 AM the next day. It took me almost 1.5 hours to track it down and even the principal assigned to the student had no paperwork. This has been an on-going issue at our school. No communication between the Special Ed Department and the teachers. So, we are working together, even though it is not my Action Research Project we agreed upon, to see why this is happening and to design a way communication can take place effectively and in a timely manner. My concern as a teacher is that I have spent two weeks not providing what this student needed to be successful. As a future administrator, this is unacceptable. Communication and collaboration are two keys to the success of a school and sets the culture and a climate for learning.

Importance of Action Research and Collaboration

I have found it quite interesting that the role of the principal has evolved into the place of being an educator again and not just adminstrator.  As a teacher of 18 years, I welcome this change.  I have always felt that administration was "removed" from the real issues that teachers experience in the classroom.  Teachers, until recently, have been isolated in their classrooms fumbling through the day without assistance or encouragement.  Now that administrators are held to accountability for test scores as well and the culture of their schools, I see education in America turning around and am hopeful of great things coming to fruition inside and outside the classroom.  I teach my students to be life-long learners and now that same gauntlet I have thrown down for myself. I will not be an administrator looking from the outside in. Action research is essential for administrators who strive for a better understanding on how to improve the culture and academic performance of their schools. I will be active in bettering my tools of the trade by pursuing higher levels of knowledge through action research that apply to my job. Part of this active research will include seeking collaborative efforts from my faculty, staff, and students.  This spiraling process of reflection and action will help me to zero in on what changes are needed and how to go about those changes.

I see educators using blogging as a collaborative effort to increase their knowledge about their jobs and for sharing their trials and tribulations as well as successes at their schools. It takes a community to teach a child.