Meeting with my site supervisor-Principal

As I contemplated the thought of reforming or changing my research question, I now think that it would be better to remain with the same question. When I met with my site supervisor, we discussed my plan and he recommended that I continue to monitor this process with the administrator responsible for the at-risk students, even though many actions and resources have already been taken place to improve their test scores at the school level. He suggested that I get with the administrator and look at the data available in our program, randomly select different students to follow their results after all the many interventions have been done, and record the results accordingly. Basically, he agreed to the plan that I have in place, and will support my endeavors. 

Foreseeing challenges of action research plan

As I think more about my action research plan, I can see different challenges that may hinder me from conducting an effective and successful research. Those obstacles may include support from the designated administrator that I'm assigned to work with, access to, and preparation of data. and simply the time to do it, even though this is a project that will be stretched out throughout the program...I also struggle with trying to decide on what the size of my sample should be, or if I need one.
My research plan is very simple in nature; what procedures or plan can we put into place to help at-risk students achieve passing or higher-level scores on state tests? Is that even a worthy research plan? I don't know for sure.

I may have to re-do my question or choose or pick another topic all together. what I do plan on doing is talking to the administrator I was assigned to work with, and monitoring that situation a bit more before scratching the plan completely. Any ideas would be appreciated..

Action Research Plan in Progress...

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments
Students increase test scores	Focus group to determine what type of assistance needs to be implemented in order for success to occur.	Prior standardized test scores, interview with stakeholders, field notes, journal writing through blogging, and literature.	Gerald Love, Ricky Nicholson, and Evelyn Ridgeway, Dr. Coleman	Present-August 2013	We will collect student test scores results from the previous year to compare with the upcoming year of test results. Monitoring the students’ progress by looking at benchmark scores, and how students are engaged in the classrooms
Students graduate	Setting up a tutorial program for low performing students
School achieves the goal of making AYP	Have a celebration of student acheivements

Lessons learned from week 2: Action Research

The purpose of my research project is to work with other administrators to assist in helping develop a strategy or plan to improve state test scores. The groups that I would like to focus on, are the LEP (limited english proficiency), at-risk, and low socio-economic students. There are a couple of benefits in conducting this research. These students are sometimes given a negative label regarding their future, which is why it's important to work with them, so that they can feel accomplished and confident in their abilities as a future contributor of society. A big purpose in making these groups a focal point, is to improve the success of the school as a whole to be able to make AYP, which is also a concern for many public schools in the state of Texas. As we all know, scores from special ed and some LEP students didn't count for AYP before, but now everyone's  scores are calculated in the equation of meeting AYP. 

Ultimately, graduation is the goal for us and the students. However, they can't need that goal without having success with the state tests. Our school already has things in place to help these kids, but I believe we can do more to improve the passing rate.

How educators might use blogs

Educators can use blogs by collecting data such as student/teacher surveys, personal journal entries about a school-related situation, and students performances on tests and other works. By doing these things, an educator may be more successful at improving a skill or making a drastic change in the culture of the school.

What I've learned from reading about action research.

What is action research or administrator inquiry? "It refers to the process of a principal (or administrator/teacher) engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result from the inquiry."

As an aspiring administrator, I find that action research, or administrator inquiry is a beneficial way and approach, that can help bring about improvement and change in an educational setting.
I've learned that engaging in this type of research, I would be more apt to develop stronger relationships with other administrators, teachers, and students. I would also have a deeper understanding of different situations and problems that arise at the school level, therefore, continuing to learn, and being a positive role model to faculty and staff.
I've also been able to understand that focusing on data from a concern or inquiry at the school level, would assist with becoming a better problem solver. because the results of the research problems are grounded in the "realities of the educational practice, practitioners become collaborators in educational research by investigating their own problems."
When practitioners take time to really investigate concerns and problems in the school through this process, they can see and understand things a little more clearly to make the necessary changes or improvements. An administrator can get bogged down with a lot of issues on the school level, and as, he/she is more aware on how to go about with the approach of action research, it will be a valuable and important tool to allow for more success.