Saturday, August 3, 2013

My Action Research Plan


Sarah N. Rodriguez Action Research Plan
Goal: What is the relationship between teacher planning methods and student achievement on STAAR in a co-teach classroom?
Action Steps(s):
Person(s) Responsible:
Timeline: Start/End
Needed Resources
Evaluation
Meet with special education coordinator, administrator, and department heads.
Sarah N. Rodriguez
Christine Trevino
Carolina Augustine
Dawn Worley
Donald Stewart
August 2013
Agenda, minutes
Feedback From those in the meeting 
Meet with all co-teachers (general & special education)


Sarah N. Rodriguez
Carolina Augustine
August 2013
Agenda, minutes, surveys about teacher perceptions about our campuses co-teach classes, suggested co-teach models, lesson planning strategies
Completed surveys, feedback
Look at 2013 STAAR, CBAs, and Semester Exams data of special education students.
Sarah N. Rodriguez
Christine Trevino
August 2013
Data spreadsheets, Special education list
Data analysis
Observe co-teach classes.
Sarah N. Rodriguez
September 2013-April 2014
Co-teacher observation form
Feedback and observation analysis
Attend common planning with co-teachers
Sarah N. Rodriguez
September 2013-April 2014
Notes template, data, observation notes, suggested co-teach models, lesson planning strategies
Feedback
Collect and analyze data from each CBA given each 6 weeks
Sarah N. Rodriguez
Christine Trevino
September 2013-April 2014
Data spreadsheets, Special education list
Data analysis, feedback from teachers
Collect and analyze data from 1st semester exam
Sarah N. Rodriguez
Christine Trevino
January2014
Data spreadsheets, Special education list
Data analysis, feedback from teachers
Collect and analyze data from 2014 STAAR test
Sarah N. Rodriguez
Christine Trevino
April 2014-May 2014
Data spreadsheets, Special education list
Data analysis, feedback from teachers
Collaborate with co-teachers about data and discuss practices being used
Sarah N. Rodriguez
September 2013-April 2014
Data spreadsheets, Special education list
Data analysis, strategies that are working and not working
Interview students in co-teach classes
Sarah N. Rodriguez
September 2013 & May 2014
Questions, survey
Survey responses
Communicate findings of research with administrators
Sarah N. Rodriguez
Christine Trevino
Carolina Augustine
Dawn Worley
Donald Stewart
May 2014
Data analysis, observations analysis, summary of findings, recommendations on next steps to be taken for 2014-2015
Feedback from administrators, peers, students

11 comments:

  1. Looking at you ARP I see you have a variety of action steps that will take place. That alone makes a good basis for this type of research project. But in the end, once you have discovered the relationship between planning and student achievement, what are you hoping to implement as a plan for improvement or adjustments? Just curious to know if you thought that far ahead because you mentioned communicating your findings, but not what you hope to improve. Are you making comparisons between various planning methods to discover which plan ultimately results in the best student achievement to make one plan eventually the primary one to be followed by all? Hopefully my post isn't confusing and it helps you to make beneficial revisions (if you feel they are needed) before you turn in your assignment. I'm sure your journey through this process will be a successful one.

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    1. You really pointed out something great. I'm going to focus on one method of planning and compare it to last year when we didn't have any plan. We just said we had co-teach but the teaching was not shared by both teachers. Our special education students are not doing well at my school and since must are in a co-teach class we need to improve how the co-teach classes are taught. Thanks for your feedback!

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  2. I agree with Ashley, you have good action steps however what are each of the steps trying to accomplish? Are you going to compare and contrast two planning methods? I'm not sure if your question fits what you are trying to accomplish. Ex: Does instructional planning through Professional Learning Communities(PLC) have a impact on student achievement? How does and inclusion program impact the learning of all students? The last topic idea was my attempt to connect with team teaching. Remember your action should connect to student achievement. I hope my comments are helpful.

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    1. Thank you. Your comments were very helpful. I was at one point thinking about planning as a PLC because right now we have no direction with the co-teach classes. There is little to no planning at all between the co-teachers. I would like to improve the planning process so that the co-teachers are better serving the students. Typically in a co-teach class the general education teacher teaches and the special education teacher observes or only helps the special education students with their work. I see what Ashley and you mean. Maybe if I focus a specific planning model and see how the students a performing when both teachers actually teach the class and plan together.

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  3. At your school, do teachers have a planning period? If so, this would be a great opportunity for teachers to collaborate. As far as co-teaching, this is a very useful tool if it is done correctly. I think you must have a meeting with faculty to go over the co-teaching models. I hate to say it, but some co-teachers just sit next to a student.....that's not the way it should be. An inclusion teacher should be active and take turns in teaching the class. If you want to get real specific, you can use an inclusion template so co-teachers will have an idea of what their role is in the classroom. Great topic!

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    1. Our co-teach model is just as you stated inclusion teacher sit next to their students and help them. I know I need to do better and get the inclusion teacher more involved. All content teachers including the inclusion have the same conference. We plan as a grade level with the inclusion teacher but there is no additional planning just with the co-teachers. we are not having success. I hope to that with planning and both teachers actively teaching we will see an increase in student success for our special education students.

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  4. So, it looks like you went with your passion, and that is a great beginning! I would agree with the suggestions made by Ashley and Carson. You have the framework in place, so now you can fine-tune it. Remember that we are all learning and these action research plans are living documents that can evolve.

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    1. Yes I did go with my passion. Ashley and Carson advice helped a ton to focus my purpose. I'm going to look at which planning method is must effective compared to last year with no planning method. There are so many co-teach models and we had no direction last year. I feel the kids where confused by why we had two teachers in the class and one only taught.

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  5. How will you be observing teacher planning methods? Looks great though, very well organized and thought out! :-D

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    1. I will observe planning methods by participating when they plan, looking at lesson plans and see who is responsible for what parts of the teaching and classroom observations. Thank you!

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  6. Planning is essential to good lesson delivery. I thinks that this topic is a good one to know how this affects student learning. In the long run one would know their strengths as well as those of the co-teacher. Good luck in your research! Please go and check out my plan if you have time...adderry.blogspot.com. Thanks.

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