Reflections

I begin my reflection with a quote:

A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.  ~Author Unknown. 

I begin with this quote because as a leader, a principal has the “ultimate responsibility for all members of the school house” (Dana 2009, p 11).  It is in that inherent power that lies what will become of the school.  If the principal believes in action research, change can truly come by because sometime during the years of service she will enact change based on action research.  In myopinion, I hope better sooner than later.  I also hope to one day be an agent of change along with my colleagues and just like the quote states ‘lead by example’. 

The first week I read the assignment I told myself ‘OK, we are going to do research and then what?’ I was somehow skeptical and a bit fearful on how I would approach it.  One night while joining friends for a meal at a restaurant I met a teacher who is in the program.  She stated that she had gone thru this class.  She mentioned that we would do research and perfect the research all thru the class.  That conversation added to my fears.  However, when I began the course and read the lectures, I realized that ‘Hey, this could work.’  I was really glad when we got to week 1 and  I heard the lectures and the interviews.  Then on week 2 we were asked to work on it again and then again on week 3.  By week 4 I was sold on it.  I was also very happy with my choice because as I have mentioned before there was a lack of parental participation on my campus.  Parents would come to school to eat with their children and attend parent conferences, but there was something missing. I, along with other teachers, were wondering when we would have more parental involvement.  And along comes our new principal.  The atmosphere in our school has totally changed. She has brought in what we needed:  the courage and energy we were craving.  Her leadership is teaching me that in order to implement change one has to want change and have a vision.   Just like Dana states on page 11 and quoted above, Mrs. Hinton is doing exactly what needs to be done.  I was glad when she approved my choice of action research because it will help our school by being a gauge on what parents think of the transformation our school is experiencing and also be an agent of change by finding out what they want and furthermore establish goals for the future. 

The Dana book is one I will keep on my professional shelf for years to come.  This is the first time I have ever heard of action research.  I guess we all do it informally as Ms. Shannon Wallace mentioned on the discussion board.  This course taught me that action research is more personable, I have ownership of it because I am the one actually doing the research.  No one from outside tells me what is wrong and how to fix it.  I have the power to enact change and the tools to do it.  

One thing I know is that time is very valuable and it takes a lot of time to conduct  action research.  My colleagues and I mentioned this again and again on the discussion boards.  Someone mentioned that we do the best we can.  I think that is the best we can do

I especially liked the interviews (not only because my superintendent was featured) but because I could hear that others are implementing this tool daily in their districts.  To me that is more valuable than just going to the library, typing up a paper, and turning in a paper.  Although I have not implemented my research as of yet, I like the fact that I will enjoy it more because one gets to live it.  By this I mean that just in the voicing our concerns and reflections on the discussion boards I realized that all of my colleagues were going thru the same inquiries and issues as I was.  I felt relieved that I wasn’t the only one feeling awkward at the beginning.  I also felt supported thru the webinars.  Even though I joined one only I learned from other colleagues and the questions they had.  I also viewed the ones I didn’t join and learned from them as well.  I felt at ease with my action research because, (this will sound childish) I got to see a professor interacting with us and actually helping us even though she is far away. 

I honestly think that some educators, administrators included, give their all to what they love:  teaching.  That is what I learned from this class.  It is not the person who leaves early every day or comes in just in time, but the person who eats and breathes the school who will enact change.  We all must find a balance between our job and our families, but although it is a cliché, we must do what we love and love what we do to, like Lead(ing) with passion and knowledge.  (Dana 2009 front cover title)

Finally, I hope to never lose sight of this very important tool to improve education.  I am promising myself to look back on this course and on this reflection to not lose sight of why I chose to (one day) become an administrator.  Words are easy to say and write, but it is in what we do that speaks volumes.  Thank you for all of your support!

Meeting with Supervisor and Changes to Research

I met with my principal to discuss my action research.  I suggested three ideas to work on. 

They are:

1. Parental Involvement and how it has positively impacted our school.  (survey parents, teachers)

2.  Study whether and how extended day (tutoring) positively affects students' scores.  I would compare release TAKS data with actual TAKS data.

3. Does using CHAMPS/Conscious discipline in our classroom minimize office referrals? 

Following is what she mentioned to each suggestion verbally and thru e-mail. 
1.  “Parental involvement---good since there is new administration here at Red Bluff and there are surveys from last year to begin comparison with as to programs and implementation of other things this year--this would also let the new administration know the direction the school is going and if the parents are in agreement with the changes

2.   Tutoring and scores--I do not feel this would be viable due to the fact that students leave and come so much during the year and that our scores are in the 90% in most areas

3.  CHAMPS/Conscience discipline---good if you would like to do this--office referrals from last year, to this year, to next year and there is training in place already for both programs.” (Ms. Hinton, 2010)

She suggested that I could do whichever one I felt most comfortable with. I mentioned that I would like to do my action research on parental involvement.  She agreed that this would help her as a new administrator to our school by gaining insight on what parents think of the new activities.  She also mentioned that she would like to know how my research is going and what the parents say.  She also suggested that I get in contact with Ms. Cortez, our counselor, since she sent out a parent survey last year.  She would have ideas on what to include on my surveys.  

  I am happy that she gave me a choice on what I will do since I had wanted to do this all along. She is very helpful and has great ideas! 

Things I will add to my action research plan:

1.  One thing that I will revise in my plan is to include that I will offer the class who turns in the most parent and student surveys will win a pizza party. 

2.  I will also add that to thank the teachers for their participation, I will bring the winning teacher lunch for a specific day and cover his/her class for one hour during their conference time. 

3.  I will also add what I wrote for the CARE Model identified in the Harris et al text, p 97.  Please see answer to Part 2 above. Most important to me is that all parents feel welcomed. 

4.  I would also like to form a network of parents who can help each other with such issues as car rides, baby sitting (if possible), etc. 

5.  Contact the counselor to see if we could establish “Room Parents”.  This means that one parent is in charge of their child’s teacher room as far as organizing parties and the like by contacting other parents in that particular classroom. 

  

Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan:

1. Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation:

My goal is to increase parental involvement at my school in order to make it an exceptional campus where all students are successful.  I would like our students to know and feel that everyone (parents and teachers and administrators) is working together to make their school career successful. I also want them to know that we truly care enough that we are willing to create activities that their families can participate in.

2. Activities designed to achieve the objectives:

Activities include, but are not limited to:

     Field Trips, Friday Popcorn Popping and Lollipop Sales and Delivery, Parent Club to aid teachers in various tasks in the parent room/center ( e.g. cutting, pasting, stapling, sorting, coloring, sharpening pencils, etc.), retired volunteers to come and read to students, attend various activities with their children throughout the year (e.g. – Texans football games (free tickets), walk-for sight, Punt, Kick, Pass event, etc,  Spring Festival, Math and Reading Nights (teachers provide training for parents/students on various activities to do at home to assist in math and reading practice), Report Card Pick Up Night- Newsletters from teachers announcing even- coupled with Book Fair to increase attendance.

3. Resources and research tools needed for data gathering:

Resources: Human resources: administrators, our counselor, teachers, parents, business owners and managers, retired volunteers,

Tools: surveys, interviews

4. Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities:

This action research will take an entire year to really find out if our various activites did in fact increase parental involvement.

5.Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan:

Myself, Administrators, counselor, teachers, SBDM

6.  Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives:

a.  Take attendance at all functions

b.  Call parents to include them in activities

c.  Include attendance numbers in newsletters

d.  Thank parents in both teachers’ and school newsletters to promote more attendance

e.  Monthly surveys/calls to random parents

f.  Meet with Parent Club for informal survey of what parents think of various activities going on that week/month

g. etc (still in progress)

7.  Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study

a. Analyzing of parent surveys

b.  Analyzing of business surveys

c.  Analyzing of student surveys

d. Copies of parent signatures on various activities logs

e. etc (still in progress)

Reflection on Week 2 Action Research

This week was filled with many new insights on action research.  I actually found out through reading the Dana book that action research can take many forms.  I enjoyed reading all the different things principals and aspiring principals, like Ms Nino, are doing in their respective schools to ensure student success. I also learned quite a bit from the 3 interviwed scholars.  They are truly experts in what they do. 
     I look forward to working with my principal in the action research I will venture in.  She is very knowledgeable and very helpful.  I know I have strong support from her and my colleagues. 

     Action research to me means taking action, not being stagnant; being proactive and fully engaged in what is happening in our campus.  Everyone evolves in all aspects of one's lives, so too, we must evolve in the area where, in my opinion, it matters the most:  our children.  We must view ourselves as forever changing in order to bring about reform and success.  I learned that as administrators we must tap into the invaluable resource we already have within our grasp:  our teachers.  It does not matter whether they are veteran teachers or newly graduated, everyone has something to offer.  Action research is being actively engaged in learning new ways to improve our schools.  It can be with a group of principals working together to "identify problem areas in their campus" and designing ways to analyze, collect data, interpret data, and sharing the results with others. (Dana, 2009).  It could also be that the principal selects a group of teachers and they share the responsibility of solving problems, decision-making, implementation, and evaluation of results. (Dana, p 21).  Usually, when principals identify an area which needs improvement  and they carry out action research, more questions arise, which begins the cycle of research again.  All stakeholders benefit from inquiry research; the most benefit should be received by children, who must be at the core of every decision ever made.  Yes, it is to improve education by improving teaching practices, the ever present state-mandated assessments and district designed benchmarks, however, students need to be involved in the process as well.  How?  By receiving all that sound instruction based on the action research undertaken by the people who are in charge of their future.

     How can educators take advantage of Blogs?  The ideas are endless!  Educators can post daily on what is going on in their classrooms.  The blog can be the classroom’s newsletter.  It could also be where students find homework, due dates, future assignments/readings, their teachers ideas on how to tackle a certain assignment.  Teachers can also share pictures of students engaged in learning and creating.  Additionally, administrators can post their thoughts as well on current events at school.  They can also keep parents up to date on any action research the administrator is working on.    Parents could visit the blog and share ideas.  The ‘blogger’, whether it is the teacher or an administrator, must exercise caution and common sense when posting anything on the internet.  We must treat the blogs as sharing information in person with an individual.  Confidentiality guidelines must be adhered to at all times.  Another way to use blogs is for students old enough to use it to do so, of course with teacher supervision and parental consent.  They could too, comment on what the teacher or principal is posting.  By doing so, according to Dana, p. 86, we "gain new insights each time we visit" (our thoughts again and again).  

     We live in a society where students are thirsty for technological use in the classroom.  We as educators and leaders must find ways to use technology to our advantage in order to be able to reach our kids better. Webjournaling or blogs could serve this purpose.