First Steps of Action Research

Today I spoke to several teachers that I feel could bring valuable information to meet for an initial planning meeting to discuss implementing number sense curriculum in the classroom daily.  The second grade teacher I spoke to is very interested to follow this research.  The Math recovery teacher is willing to come in and recommend daily activities and reteach activities we could do that we learned from a District paid for training we attended this fall.  I spoke with my principal about the discussions and I am set to prepare an official meeting for next week.  The only challenge I expect is from the third grade team. Just from brief discussions I have had with them, they are not sold on teaching number sense in the form of being able to solve problems in your head using number sense strategies.  They feel it causes the learning of algorithym to slow down.  This will have to be something I look into and discuss this with our K-2nd grade teams who have been teaching number sense all year. 

How will learning Number Sense effect learning basic math facts?

Thank you to Mary for taking a look at my Action Research plan and leaving comments.  I struggled with getting my Action Research Plan to "Link up" to my blog.  I finally did it, but left off the school goal and My goal for my project.  So, here it is:

SCHOOL VISION: Each student is prepared beyond High School and gains academic success!

GOAL:  All level of students gain number sense to help them with the ability to memorize math facts, and through research see if students are developmentally ready to memorize facts.

Hope you are all having a fabulous week!

My Action Research Plan

I finally got it loaded on the blog!  If you will click on the title, it will take you to the actual plan. 

If You're Green, You're Growing

My favorite quote this week has come from Dr. Timothy Chargois, Director or Research, Planning and Development in Beaumont I.S.D.  In an Interview for my action research class he stated "If you're green, you're growing; if you're brown, you're dying."  He was emphasising the fact that educators can never stop being learners.  I believe this sums up, for me, what I am learning through this week's assignments.  Through action research in our schools, or districts, we are able to learn best practices for our educators and our students.  We will discover what will create the most effective school cultures and, in the process perhaps challenge our own thinking. Action research will help drive our own continuing education as we search out the answers to our "wonder's" and "what if's." 

What I have learned about Action Research

Over the past few days of reading I have discovered action research will be the driving tool for creating a quality school culture. Partnered with principal inquiry, it will create focused and motivated leaders, administrator and teachers alike, who will develop a sense of ownership in the success of their school.  In Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher, Nancy Fichtman Dana (2009) explains the benefits of action research and principal inquiry.  One of the benefits is the principal becomes a role model in their building.  She states, “If principals want students and teacher to take learning seriously, if they are interested in building community of learners, they must not only be head teachers, headmasters, or instructional leaders.  They must, above all, be head learners.” (pg 13)  A second benefit listed is “that engagement in the process can help best practices to flourish at your school.” (pg 13)  I am excited to embark on my own action research.  I have been wondering if there was a way to take the concepts of Math recovery and apply it to the upper elementary grades that will not only create greater number sense, but I wonder if it will help them to retain and memorize multiplication facts and become better problem solvers.  I will be observing two different grade levels during the next few months and through collaboration with educators, collecting data, designing a plan and implementing instruction I hope to gather great information that could strengthen our math instruction and learning.

Why Blog?  There are several reasons why educational leaders should use blogs.  Some of the main benefits to blogging are collaboration, reflection and sharing research with colleagues.  Through blogging and sharing inquiry, will “help you play with, develop, and challenge ideas that have developed about your administrative practice as a result of engaging in inquiry” (Dana; 2009). (pg 150)