Action Research Plan

Action Planning
Goal: The goal is to improve vocabulary quiz scores and overall grades through rigorous vocabulary strategies.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Assess sample group without changing any methods of teaching. Every Monday students will be given a vocabulary list and Friday they will be given the quiz. Students will have to study on their own.	Teacher	4/22/13-5/10/13	1.Vocabulary   Quizzes 2.Vocabulary Lists	1.Quiz grades 2. Averages of the students from the three-week period. 3. Observations of student’s participation in studying. 4. Reflections on what I have observed. 5.Student Work
2. Introduce the vocabulary strategies to the sample group. Monday- Define Vocabulary Words Tuesday- Create original sentences using vocabulary words. Wednesday- Create illustrations of vocabulary words. Thursday- Play an interactive matching game with the vocabulary words. Friday- Vocabulary Quiz	Teacher	5/13/13-5/31/13	1.Vocabulary   Quizzes 2.Vocabulary Lists 3.Vocabluary Strategies	1.Quiz grades 2. Averages of the students from the three-week period. 3. Observations of student’s participation using strategies. 4. Reflections on what I have observed. 5.Student Work
3. Repeat action steps 1 and 2 with a separate sample group in a different grading period.	Teacher	10/7/13-11/15/13	1.Vocabulary   Quizzes 2.Vocabulary Lists 3.Vocabluary Strategies	1.Quiz grades 2. Averages of the students from the three-week period. 3. Observations of student’s participation using strategies and participation in studying. 4. Reflections on what I have observed. 5.Student Work
4. Combine the averages and quiz scores to compare the two different sample groups.	Teacher	4/22/13-11/22/13	1.Grade Book 2.Reflections 3. Observations 4. Student Work	1. Creating charts and graphs to compare the set of students.

Lessons Learned about Action Research

A lesson that I learned this week about my action research is that my project should be something that will be the most beneficial to myself. I had great conversations about different project ideas with my supervisor and we came to the conclusion that the topic I choose should have the most effect on my teaching and the topic should be worth my time. It  made me think about what I am really passionate about and came to the realization that I am interested in vocabulary. My site supervisor and I both felt that this topic can be something that the whole department could utilize at some point. Scores need to improve and we both felt that this topic would be a beneficial strategy to instructional progress. 

How educational leaders might use blogs?

Educational leaders can use blogs as a way to reflect on their research.  Educators can then take their blogs and use it as effective data for their research plans by putting thoughts and ideas together. The reflections can be texts or images which can be linked to others to gain feedback and ideas. Educators can come back to these blogs to refresh their minds and give them new understandings.

What is Action Research?

I have learned that  action research can be effective for an administrator or any practioner trying to improve school quality. Practioners are able to study practices and then take action to change these practices if need be. They are the ones to ask questions, collect, and analyze data to make these changes in educational practices. Action Research can be an important device for administrators because they can analyze issues at their campus and reflect on their data to improve the issue.This type of research gives administrators the chance to change issues in the school from the inside, rather than people guessing what needs to be done. 

I would be able to use action research to investigate issues that I am passionate about. I have always had a curiosity about vocabulary and the impact it can have if it is utilized consistently. I would  like to research using vocabulary strategies to improve scores through a grading period. I would then like to use the same procedures and test it on a whole new group of students and grade level and compare the similarities and difference.