What next?

Well, I have all my data collected - but I am having a hard time visualizing how to put it all together!  Hoping my next class will give me some insight (especially since it is the last class!)

Update

I am in the mid point class, class 7. I have completed several activites to get "caught up" this week. I updated my internship plan and completed write up for my Action Research Project.

Week 3 update - where am I in my research?

Week 3 Assignment, Part 3
Draft Action Research Project Progress Report

A.      CHAMPS: The effect of a behavioral management program on math scores

B.      Data Review

During the 2011-2012 school year, data was reviewed by our building administrators. Administration was looking for a correlation between the increase of behavior problems and the test scores by sub populations. Administration also noted behavior concerns expressed by teachers in their classrooms. Teachers felt that student’s behavior was causing their decrease in test scores.  The data below is a report of the math testing data for the students.

 

Beginning of year math data showed the following results

Student group	Average Score	Difference from average
3rd grade, all students	78%	n/a
Economically Disadvantaged	75%	-3%
African American/Black	75%	-3%
Hispanic	76%	-2%
LEP	71%	-7%
SPED	62%	-16%

 

12 week benchmark data showed the following results:

Student group	Average Score	Difference from average	Difference from beginning of year
3rd grade, all students	75%	n/a	-3%
Economically Disadvantaged	71%	-4%	-4%
African American/Black	73%	-2%	-2%
Hispanic	67%	-8%	-9%
LEP	62%	-13%	-9%
SPED	55%	-20%	-7%

 

February STAAR simulation testing data showed the following results

Student Group	Average Score	Difference from Average	Difference from benchmark data	Difference from beginning of year
3rd grade, all students	62%	n/a	-13%	-16%
Economically disadvantaged	57%	-5%	-14%	-18%
African American/Black	61%	-1%	-12%	-14%
Hispanic	55%	-7%	-12%	-21%
LEP	39%	-23%	-23%	-32%
SPED	36%	-26%	-19%	-26%

Current data from 2012-2013 school year

behavior	Times rule was broken by a student 1st 9 weeks	Times rule was broken by a student 2nd 9 weeks	Times rule was broken by a student 3rd 9 weeks	Times rule was broken by a student 4th 9 weeks
Follow teacher directions	51	39
Have supplies ready for learning	0	1
Keep hands, feet, and objects to self	7	5
Turn in completed tasks on time	0	3
Wait for permission to speak	1	0

 

Consequence	1st 9 weeks	2nd 9 weeks	3rd 9 weeks	4th 9 weeks
Warning – in folder	55	49
Office Referral	0	0
In school suspension	1	0
Out of school suspension	0	0

 

12 week benchmark

Student group	Average Score	Difference from average
4th grade, all student	79%	n/a
Economically Disadvantaged	76%	-3%
African American/Black	82%	+3%
Hispanic	69%	-10%
LEP	60%	-19%
SPED	54%	-25%

 

C.      Will the implementation of the CHAMPS program during the 2012-2013 have an effect on math scores for students in 4^th grade?  Research collected during this school year will allow me to effectively answer this question. Research will review each sub set of students to compare averages, gains, and losses. Research will also review the attendance records and behavior charts of the respected students.

1.       Increase of 3% or more in math scores within each subset of students

2.       Decrease of 5 conduct marks or more in each of the 5 recorded behaviors

                        3.       Increase of 5 or more in overall attendance

 

D.      In discussions with administration on my campus as well as review of testing data of our 3^rd graders, we felt that research needed to be conducted for this group of students. After compiling testing data and reviewing the trends, it was determined that the same group of students would be followed the next school year in order to compile the needed data to determine if the CHAMPS program has a positive correlation on math grades. In research conducted by Schindler, “there is a strong correlation between school climate and student achievement” (2009).  This statement helped lay the foundation for the research. In review of others research, I was able to provide evidence with their research, that I should find a correlation between math scores and behavior. Harry Wong has completed countless studies in classrooms as well as academic achievement. In one study, Wong states that the “number one factor governing student learning is Classroom Management” (1998). This statement gives further evidence that classroom management has a profound impact on the achievement of our students. 

 

Resources:

 

Shindler, J., Jones, A., Williams, A., Taylor, C. & Cadenas, H (2009) Exploring Below the Surface: School Climate Assessment and Improvement as the Key to Bridging the Achievement Gap A Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Seattle WA. January, 2009

 Wang, Haertel, and Walberg. “What Helps Students Learn?” Educational Leadership, December 1993/January, 1994.

Wong, Harry and Rosemary. (1998). The First Days of School. Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, p. 82 and 167.

E.     The vision of the action research project has been shared with staff on my campus. Through staff development, updates through my research blog, and updates through staff email, I have kept staff up to date with the research I am conducting as well as the evidence provided.

F.       I have led the research project independently. Meeting with my principal have allowed me to make changes to the project timeline as needed.  Responsibilities to collect behavioral data and conduct sheets have been given to two fourth grade teachers who have agreed to help collect data for the research project. I have also delegated our office clerk to print off reports for office referral data and student’s grades at the end of each 9 week period. Periodic updates are noted on my blog as a reference for professors and myself to compile all the necessary data for the research.

G.     The initial needs assessment from the testing data and teacher observation was the initial driving force behind my research.  All k-4 teachers on our campus were told they must be trained in the CHAMPS program by the end of the 2013 school year. Reports from teachers included not understanding the driving force for the decision and wondering why their classroom management needed revamping when their test scores were “just fine”. Periodic updates have allowed teachers to reflect on their practices and understand the principals thoughts when deciding to implement the program. Through the research I plan to prove why we need a universal classroom management system on our campus and how the implementation of this particular program will increase our math scores of students in 4^th grade.

H.      The research will provide evidence to teachers, staff, students and parents that a school-wide behavior management program is effective to increase the test scores of students. Furthermore, the data will show that the program showed an increase in test scores of our sub-populations. Through the research, the effectiveness of the program will be proved through the evidence of test scores. One of the pivotal foundations of the CHAMPS program is the effectiveness the consistency and guidelines provides for students.

ARP update January

Another update on my ARP. I have collected data from 1st and 2nd 9 weeks in regards to behavior.  I have gathered office data from 1st sesmeter, but I need to see if a report can be run to seperate the data.... Now that the teachers have attended traning and are implementing the CHAMPS program in their classrooms, I can begin to put my data together into a report.

ARP Update

I haven't updated in a while, so I figure an update is long overdue My plan is in full swing, and data collection has begun. I have compiled the data into an Excel sheet and I am waiting on the data from our PEIMS clerk at school so I can complie attendance data.  I will show a correlation between attendance and grades, in relation to CHAMPS. 

Research Update Nov 6, 2012

I have finally been able to work on my research project! It  has been a crazy few weeks around here.  Here is the link from my survey to the teachers regarding CHAMPS.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y6N2NTB

Community Relations - Week 5 update

Here is an update on my Action Research Project. I have not made any changes since my updated post in June, however, I have made progress on the project.

After many discussions with my principal, we finally narrowed my research down to a manageable topic. As always, I am very broad with topics of research. She clarified how a leader must take the time to look at one specific aspect of a project in order to find a definitive solution, rather than grazing the top of several problems.

The final project is titled “How will the implementation of CHAMPS affect Tier behaviors and math scores in 4^th graders at Story Elementary”.  Two of the 4^th grade teachers will be helping me collect my data to be analyzed. For the first semester, I will look at the Tier behaviors; Tier 1 behaviors are everyday behaviors with reminders to stay on task or to stop talking; Tier 2 behaviors are repetitive behaviors that continue after discussing with parents, or detention; Tier 3 behaviors are severe behaviors exhibited that create a dangerous environment, results in suspension, or result in expulsion. After analyzing school data, I will analyze math scores for the first 9 weeks. After organizing the data from the first semester, I will wait to look at data at the end of the year.

In January, the teachers will be trained through Region 10 on the CHAMPS behavior management program. Once the 2 day training has been completed, teacher will implement the CHAMPS program during the month of January.  I have already been trained in the program, so I will be the teacher’s resource if questions or concerns about the program arise.

In May, when the last 9 weeks grades have been turned in, I will begin the 2^nd phase of my project. I will analyze the Tier behaviors in the same manner completed after the first 9 weeks. I will also look at the math scores from the last 9 weeks. All information will be compiled in an organized manner for review.

Once the data has been organized, I will compare the Tier behaviors from the first 9 weeks and the last 9 weeks. I will also compare math scores of each student to identify if scores increased or decreased. I will then look at the students who have Tier 2 and 3 behaviors to see if behaviors and math scores have a correlation.

Once the data is compiled, I will give an in-service on my findings when we return in August. I want to present the staff with the data found to solidify the school’s behavior management change.

4th week web conference - School Community Relations

Tonight's web conference was the best for this course yet. The other week's conferences have consisted of the same questions about ILD training, how to register for this or that, how to work something on the computer, etc. Tonight we finally discussed some great things going on on other's campuses. I enjoyed hearing about the Community Relation Programs colleagues are going to implement. I went into this course only creating a plan, and not planning on actually implementing my program until later (or when I am an AP or Principal). I am blown away by the colleagues in my class who are already taking their projects to the implementation stage! I cannot imagine adding that to my plate that is already "running over". KUDOS to you guys! 

I really enjoyed hearing from one classmate about her backpack program. We have had one on our campus for a few years, and the families and students really benefit from it. Another classmate discussed a hygiene program she is planning on developing. I am intrigued by her program development. What an interesting program!

As I was reading the Week 2 readings, it hit me that I read them last week - and it is Week 3 already!  These classes are flying by!  The 3rd reading for Week 3 was very informative. The plan laid out with 6 steps was easy to follow. I also enjoyed reading analyzing the data samples from all three school levels; elementary, middle, and high schools. The information and perspectives given will not only help with my plan for this course, but also gave great insight into relationship building as a future principal.

2nd week web conference

I have attended 3 web conferences for the Community-School Relations course thus far. I am beginning to notice that the ILD training and questions are beginning to overtake the conferences. Participants are really getting away from discussing the course, and just asking questions that could be answered through e-mail.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Human Resource course, Dr. Jenkins was really able to keep everyone on task by discussing comments on discussion board threads, or by discussing questions he had received through e-mails.  I wish the further conferences would be modeled after the HR course!

I met with the teachers who will be helping me collect data for my Research project this week. I am so lucky to work with such willing people!  We formed a plan that will hopefully be easy, and allow mem to collect the data I need for my research.

Each 9 weeks, I will collect behavior sheets from the teachers that will document all of the "marks" they have recieved that 9 weeks.  From there, I can classify them according to our CHAMPS expectations.  I will also obtain 9 week math grades from our PEIMS clerk.  This will allow  me to identiy a correllation between behavior and  academics (I am hoping for a POS correlation). 

Here's to the beginning of school and the beginning of research!

Week 1 of my Research

I am starting my project this week!  Let's see -  aides hours being cut, internship requirements, lesson plans for 7 grades each day, class requirements,  team lead duties, wife, laundry, mommy duties, cooking - no this girly is NOT stressed at ALL!  I always seem to get it all done, but I think my coveted 8 hrs of sleep each night is going to be a memory.....

My first meeting is on Thurs with the teachers who will be helping me collect my data. I think my discovery of "dropbox" and becoming more familiar with blogging and goole docs will be my savior!  I can work anywhere now!!

Back 2 School, Back 2 Work

I am back at school - where did summer go?  I hope to get with some teacher friends to get my research plan underway school starts!  I am currently praying for time managment and reminders that I can handle this!

I am digging deep into the next course. This is one of the classes I have been exctied about.  I am having a difficult time with the current assignment because it is summer - I sure wish the course was adjusted for that! It is hard to interview people when they are onvacation. Has anyone else had difficutly completing the assignment?

Looking into conflict is interesting. I have never thought about the short/long term effects of certain actions by co-workers. I am enjoying emailing my teacher friends to dicuss their thoughts on conflct. The results have been vey different!

Final Final Revison to Action Reseach Plan

Action Research Plan  Revision 6/27/2012

Research Question: Behavior molds us into the person we are, and the person we are to be become. When looking at behavior of students, their academics are rightly affected. During the 2011-2012 school year, an increase in tiered behaviors, as well as a decrease in test scores was evident on our campus. Will the implementation of a new behavioral management program result in an increase in the academic achievement and decrease the tiered behaviors at Story Elementary.  Do the students with low test scores and poor behavior; also have a poor attendance record?

Goal/Outcome: If a correlation between the new behavior management program and test scores proves to be positive, administrators will look into training all staff members on the CHAMPS training.  I will assist the administration with staff development on the trainings and aide in the implementation school wide.

Notes: During my research, I will be looking at academic data from students at Story Elementary. During my investigation, I hope to discover how a behavior intervention program will affect the academics of our student. I am hoping to show a positive correlation between the two sets of data. I will look at the number of tiered behavior* interventions as well as academic data. I will also look at the correlation of behavior and academics with attendance.  I would like to see if the program creates a positive impact on their academics, as well as a decrease in tiered behavior interventions. *Tier behaviors will be set by school administration and teachers during the 1st week of in-service. The graphic model will be added to my plan documents when finalized.

Action Steps(s):	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Compile a list of tiered behaviors that the 4th grade team will use	Aug 2012 - Sept 2012	Excel or Word	Create a graphic representation of the behavior tiers and the respective behaviors seen in each tier
Identify class average in math scores for beginning 9 weeks	Aug 2012 - Nov 2012	AWARE/ Skyward data program, EXCEL	Generate the class average of 2 4th grade classes in math
Identify class average in math scores for ending 9 weeks	Aug 2012 - June 2013	AWARE/Skyward data program, EXCEL	Generate the class average of 2 4th grade classes in math
Comparison chart	Aug 2012 - June 2013	AWARE data, SKYWARD data,	Compare academic data form BOY and EOY
Chart tier behaviors	Aug 2012 – Dec 2012	Tally sheets from teachers	Compile data from teachers into excel to look at which tier behaviors occur Chart tier behaviors in their classroom before CHAMPS implementation
Chart tier behaviors	Jan 2013 – June 2013	Tally sheets form teachers	Compile data from teachers into excel to look at which tier behaviors occur Chart tier behaviors in their classroom after CHAMPS implementation
Compile a list of attendance records for those students who score below range on test scores, as well as those who fall on the tiered behavior chart	Aug 2011 – June 2013	EXCEL, attendance data from Skyward	Use the data collected to create a graphic representation of all the data collected. Look to see if there is a correlation between the attendance & behavior and/or attendance & academics in the 2 4th grade classes