Revised Action Research Plan

I have already started back to school and this week has been pretty hectic. I think I am learning to pace myself pretty well. I met with my site supervisor again this week and we looked over my action research plan. She is very pleased with my plan and glad we changed the target group from fourth to fifth grade. Both of us are anxious to see what the findings of my research shows. We are hoping to see improvement and evidence that the money being spent on this program is well worth it. This past year we were able to see improvement in many students’ confidence and attitude toward reading. Before meeting with my site supervisor this week I made some revisions to my action research plan based on your comments. I have added more details to my action steps and tried to make the end goal of my action research clearer. I also added a step to help me remember I will need to create the student survey I will be giving in step 6. My site supervisor has given her approval to my plan and I look forward to getting started next week. I am posting my revised Action Research Plan and hope that you will again leave some very helpful comments. Thanks!

Dana Brecht’s Action Research Plan
Goal:  What impact will Read 180 have on fifth grade STAAR reading scores?
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1  Organize action research notebook for recording and keeping documentation supporting research.	Dana Brecht	August 12, 2013-August 1, 2014	•  notebook •  divider tabs •  journal pages	Organize all action research documentation including (but not limited to) rosters, surveys, journaling, spreadsheets, etc.
2  Obtain a list of target group - 5th grade Read 180 students.	Dana Brecht	August 12-16, 2013	•  5th grade Read 180 roster •  spreadsheet	Add students to spreadsheet.  Make a column to note 1st and 2nd year students in the program.
3  Create student survey to get students input/thoughts about reading.	Dana Brecht	August 12-16, 2013	•  computer/word •  survey questions	Student survey  that reflects his/her thoughts about reading.
4  Obtain and analyze STAAR reading scores to provide answer to action inquiry.	Dana Brecht	August 2013 March 2013 April 2013 July 2013	•  2012-2013 4th grade STAAR reading scores •  2013-2014 5th grade STAAR reading scores •  spreadsheet	Add STAAR scores for 5th grade Read 180 students to spreadsheet. Summary of STAAR scores.
5  Meet with Read 180 teacher to provide background information and discuss action research.	Dana Brecht Dalena Pickett	August 20, 2013	Action Research Plan	Summary of meeting.
6 Distribute beginning of year student reading survey to 5th grade R180 students to provide a look into the way these students view reading.	Dana Brecht	August 27-30, 2013	•  self-created reading survey •  copies of survey •  5th grade R180 students	•  Students completed survey. •  Summary of surveys.
7  Collect scores and analyze data from the three R180 SRI assessments given to track student progress.	Dana Brecht	August 2013 January 2014 May 2014	•  SRI spreadsheet •  May 2013 SRI scores •  January 2014 SRI scores •  May 2014 SRI scores	•  SRI scores documented on spreadsheet. •  Summary of results.
8 Collect scores and analyze ISIP data from three administrations to track student progress.	Dana Brecht	August 2013 January 2013 May 2013	•  ISIP spreadsheet •  beginning, middle, end of year ISIP results for 5th grade R180 students	•  ISIP scores documented on spreadsheet. •  Summary of results.
9  Collect and analyze reading benchmark scores to track student progress.	Dana Brecht	August 2013-May 2013	•  reading benchmark scores for 5th grade R180 students •  spreadsheet	•  Benchmark scores documented on spreadsheet. •  Summary of scores.
10  Observe 5th grade R180 students while in classroom to collect qualitative data.	Dana Brecht	August 2013-May 2014	self-created student observation checklist	Summary of each observation.
11 Research Read 180 and its results at other schools for comparison to my end results.	Dana Brecht	August 2013-June 2014	•  Read 180 literature •  websites about Read 180	•  Summary of Read 180 and other schools results •  Comparison of research and my results.
12  Analyze and interpret different types of 5th grade data collected to make predictions about STAAR reading scores.	Dana Brecht	February 2014	•  SRI scores •  ISIP scores •  benchmark scores	Record predictions in journal.
13  Distribute student reading survey to see if student opinions have change from beginning of year.	Dana Brecht	May 2014	•  self-created reading survey •  copies of survey •  5th grade R180 students	•  Completed student surveys. •  Comparison summary of surveys.
14 Meet with principal and R180 teacher to discuss findings at this point and  STAAR score predictions.	Dana Brecht Beverly Hall Dalena Pickett	February 2014 June 2014	•  action research notebook •  data based predictions	Summary of meetings.
15 Compare and analyze STAAR reading data for evidence of R180 impact on 2014 5th grade scores.	Dana Brecht	July 2014	•  2013 STAAR data •  2014 STAAR data •  graphic organizer	•  Results of Read 180 impact on 5th grade STAAR reading scores. •  Self-Reflection on findings.
16 Organize action research presentation to support argument for R180 impact on STAAR scores and continued funding for program.	Dana Brecht Dalena Pickett	August 2014	•  collected data (STAAR scores, SRI, ISIP, benchmarks, student survey and observations) •  summaries •  graphic organizers •  self-reflection	•  Developed oral presentation and powerpoint slides. •  Presentation approval by principal. •  Scheduled Presentation date/dates.
17 Present action research findings to teachers, administrators, school board members and parents to show the impact Read 180 is having on STAAR scores and if the impact warrants continued funding.	Dana Brecht Dalena Pickett	August 2014	•  developed presentation •  powerpoint slides	Oral presentation with powerpoint.

 

 

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)