Action Research Week 3

I have finally settled on my action research plan!  How do classroom pullouts affect student performance on standardized tests?  I am curious to see if all the time spent pulling students out of electives to work on classwork or TAKS/STAAR related material really helps improve those student's test scores.  Or, are we just giving students an "out" to not do their work in class or at home because they know they will be pulled to make it up?  I just think we are giving students too many chances nowadays and we are not making the parents accountable for what their children do.  Some schools don't even do homework at all.  Anyhow, my biggest fear is that I will not be able to find enough information to make this plan work.  If anyone has any ideas of where to find articles or books on classroom pullouts, or tutorials during class time, please share.

Action Research Week 2

I am beginning to learn that when it comes to action research I have to not only find a topic that interests me, but also one that I won't want to embellish.  For instance, one of my topics deals with classroom pullouts.  This is a sore spot for me because I am an elective teacher.  My premise or main question on the subject is:  What affect do classroom pullouts have on standardized test scores as well as performance in class?  I know what the answer should be, but at what cost.  When you pull a student out of a particular class ,usually an elective, to "get help" in another class, aren't you depriving that student his/her education in the class missed?  When is the time made up for the class missed?  I could go on and on about my feelings on the matter.  But, I have learned this week that I have to focus on the topic at hand.  Apparently these other side notes will have to wait.  Please feel free to suggest or help in any way if you think my action research should go another direction.

Action Research

When I first heard the words action research, I  only heard the research part, and thought "great more trips to the library and researching a topic that has already been researched and problem solved".  What I have learned in the readings so far is that I should be focused more on the action or inquiry portion of action research.  Action research gives us the opportunity to solve our everyday issues.  We can use a systematic approach to gather ideas in our own settings.  The research involved is not rehashing old models or instructional techniques, but observing the models and techniques we use daily and working to improve these on a regular basis.  I have learned that the process is about reaching a goal and not just regurgitating information and filing it away.  In action research, you define a problem, ask questions, and gather information as the first portion of the process. Then instead of just reporting on the information and your findings, like traditional research, action research takes it a few steps further.  I should analyze my findings, give some proposed solutions, try those solutions, and then modify if necessary.  Isn't this what we do on a regular basis with our students?  Don't we try and find what works best for each individual kid to help them succeed?  I believe action research will help me in my classroom by helping me diagnose problems sooner with my teaching approach.  By taking a systematic approach and asking my self specific questions on a daily or weekly basis, I can evaluate things i can improve.  From these self evaluations I can develop a plan to change.  I can also use action research to help my students become better learners not just in my class but all classes.  I believe by evaluating and gathering data on how music affects academic study, I can help our students succeed.  Hopefully in the process I will make believers out of the teachers also.

I believe there is no limit to how educators can use blogs.  There is a vast number of educators out there who have all experienced the same issues and dealt with them in different ways.  Blogs set up the avenue for us to share our knowledge and insight in to all sorts of situations from dealing with budget, dealing with the media, and discipline.  Personally, this is the first time I have ever used a blog.  It has already helped me in learning a new way to communicate.  I hope that people will find my insight helpful.  I also hope that the feed back I receive will help me in my everyday journey as an educator.