JANUARY 2010ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

PRESENTATION

Projects #9, 17, 29, and 32Mentor: Helga Bernard, Ph. D.

Clark County School District

School Improvement and Research

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT?

Teachers who research and document their use of instructional strategies become reflective practitioners and can contribute greatly to school improvement plan goals and to their own growing body of knowledge about improving the quality of their own professional practice in a collaborative environment. 

Reflective practitioners can: Address an issue in a curriculum area Introduce an innovation Evaluate a teaching technique or curriculum change Conduct action research in a systematic form of exploring a problem or practice to

understand and improve the quality of instruction.

ACTION RESEARCH CYCLEThere are four basic steps in the action research cycle:

The Clark County School District (CCSD) defines action research as a self-reflective process of researching one’s own educational practices with the purpose of understanding and improving the quality of instruction. Action research is systematic inquiry. Following specific steps insures quality data collection and analysis, which leads to valid outcomes. Action research is also iterative, meaning it is an ongoing cycle. While answering one question, others arise begging to be investigated. As one CCSD action researcher has said, “Action research is personal professional development.” Source: CCSD Research Department website.

PROJECT #9Research Question: How to improve students with low reading level scores by

providing parent training on oral reading and comprehension strategies?

IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENT

Professional Data Sources Student Data Sources

Parent:Letter to parentsReading Inventory survey3 reading strategies to practice at home taught in class to students.

 Teacher:Reflections made by teacherImproved reading logs

 

Baseline Data:Last year interim scoresDIBELSAR/Star Reading  Classroom Data:Reading logsDec. Interim scoresORF fluency(Dibels benchmark) 

PLAN

Professional Practice to Change

2nd Grade, Ullom ESIncrease parental involvement by providing specific reading strategies to parents to help improve parent-teacher partnerships.

DATA ANALYSIS &

REFLECTIONS

The insights I have gained thus far are: that my ability to motivate students through extrinsic daily rewards are huge; parents and students can practice strategies at home to affect comprehension development.

PROJECT #17 Research Question: What strategies can parents learn during a Parent Student Literacy Training sessions to help their children improve reading achievement?

IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENT

Professional Data Sources Student Data Sources

 Parents:5 Big Ideas Phonics Phonemic awareness Vocabulary Comprehension Fluency Parent Survey Parent conferences Parent Journals  Teacher:Teacher Portfolio Parent PortfolioTraining agendas Sign-in sheetsTraining calendarTeacher reflection

Baseline Data:DIBELS oral and reading comprehension scores Interim Scores  Classroom Data: Student work Report cards Homework

PLAN

Professional Practice to Change

2nd Grade, Mendoza ES

Equip parents with the necessary skills and strategies so they can help their children increase reading achievement at home.

DATA ANALYSIS &

REFLECTIONS

What insights have you gained about your professional practice at this point? The insights I have gained thus far are:

PROJECT #29Research Question: Which reading comprehension strategies may impact

increased student achievement in reading?

IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENT

Professional Data Sources Student Data Sources

 Teacher: HQSI strategies SIP Reading Goals Interviews  Lesson plans Classroom Observations 

Baseline Data:Spanish LAS LINKS Interim Assessments Classroom Data:Student Journals 

PLAN

Professional Practice to Change

Grades 1-3, Walker InternationalDual Language Program

To support academic outcomes and educational opportunities for all students involved in the Dual Language Program by promoting effective in an effort to increase content comprehension.

DATA ANALYSIS &

REFLECTIONS

What insights have you gained about your professional practice at this point? The insights I have gained thus far are:

PROJECT #32Research Question: How does a writing conventions coding system, implemented

across all subject areas, impact student writing proficiency as measured by the Nevada Writing Assessment.

IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENT

Professional Data Sources Student Data Sources

Teacher:Writing convention poster to be posted in each content area classroom Monthly writing prompts:Standards 5.5.4, 5.5.5, and 5.5.6  Researched-based lessons 

Baseline:Nevada Writing Proficiency scores  Classroom Data:Monthly writing PromptWriting rubric Student work records Pre/Post implementation student survey

PLAN

Professional Practice to Change

5th grade, Harmon ES How does a writing conventions coding system, implemented across all subject areas, impact student writing proficiency as measured by the Nevada Writing Assessment.

DATA ANALYSIS &

REFLECTIONS

What insights have you gained about your professional practice at this point? The insights I have gained thus far are: