Final answer...

Okay, so I have spoken with my site mentor and we have decided on what my action research plan will be. I will be following BOY, MOY and EOY test scores in reading and math (DRA/TPRI/DMA). I will be looking for how students perform based on if they attended pre-k or not. I will be making notes to the difference in scores. After I have collected my data, based on the data I will create the action part of my research project. I have several ideas and I can't wait. :-D

This week was a great week, but also very busy. I now have a deeper understanding of what action research is and ways that it can be used in a school environment. I have a few ways that I will be using it this year to answer some other "wonderings" I have... I'll keep you posted!

Narrow the focus...

Okay, so after watching this weeks videos on blackboard I still think my topic has significance, but I need to narrow it. I need to make it more specific. What about following students in kindergarten this year who have and have not attended pre-k the year before. I want to look specifically at DMA and DRA scores. Is there a difference in the scores among the students? The purpose of this action research project is to convince parents why pre-k is so important for their students development. I have heard so many parents say "pre-school" is a waste of time, they were not aware that I am a pre-k teacher... :-/

Possible action research project

As most of you know, pre-k and kindergarten are not required grades in the state of Texas and in some cases you have to qualify for pre-k. I wonder why it's not required, should it be? I am thinking about tracking students this year who are in pre-k, kindergarten and first. I want to see their progress if they are or are not past attendees of pre-k, kindergarten and first. As a kindergarten teacher I can tell you first hand the benefits of having a student who attended pre-k the year before. I wonder how first grade teachers deal when they get a student who did not attend pre-k or kindergarten? With the ever rising standards and the pressure students have on them today, I think we are doing them a disservice by not requiring pre-k and kindergarten... Thoughts?

What I have learned about action research...

Research, research, research...  Sounds like a lot of work, well it is!  However, I have learned that action research is work that pays off.  I have learned that through action research educators can create solutions to problems while gaining a better insight into what causes their problems through data collection and data analysis.  I have also learned the importance of reflection on data.  "Administrators' engagement in inquiry is one vehicle for making reflection purposeful and visible. (Dana, 2009, p. 7).  I have also learned that action research should be taken with a systematic approach.  "Inquiring professionals seek out change by reflecting on their practice.  They do this by posing questions or "wonderings, collecting data to gain insights into their wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understanding developed during inquiry, and sharing findings with others" (Dana & Yendol-Hoppey, 2009).  I have learned the difference between action research and traditional educational research. I understand that action research is simply what it says in the title; there are action steps after the research, where as traditional education research is also what it says in the title, research.  Action research has a follow through to the inquiry while traditional educational research just provides information and data. Lastly I have learned the importance of engagement in inquiry, “research tells us that engagement in inquire is an important ingredient of the overall professional health of an educator” (Copeland, 2003). 

How can leaders use blogs????

There are many ways that blogs can be useful, but for leaders I find that there are specific ways that they can be useful. Blogs serve as a network to communicate and share ideas with other leaders, as well as, a way to document inquiry or action research as we are doing in EDLD 5301. Blogs can also allow for reflection on ones own thoughts, as well as, serve as a diary of thoughts. Through blogging, bloggers can also receive feedback from their followers, which will assist one in the reflection process.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog, my name is Brittani and I am 25 years old. I have been teaching for two years and will begin my third year this coming Fall. I am passionate about education and I have a great desire to make positive changes in education. I am excited about this journey and I hope that you will come along.

TESTING...123...

Hello all, this is just a test. Please join my site and I will join yours. Please leave a quick comment so I know its working :-D thanks!!!