Draft Action Research Project Progress Report

Draft Action Research Project Progress Report

                          03/13/2013

Vertically Aligned Terminology

How will vertically aligned terminology help students recall information on the topic and subject being taught? I wanted to see if students would be able to recall information in a more effective manner having a basic understanding of the word from the previous grade level. The need for this came up with in conversation with my principal do to the district putting an emphasis on a more vertically aligned curriculum. It was also brought up at a faculty meeting about having a core group of words that would be used to increase the recall of the students in subject matter area.

 The school that I teach at has a diverse population and a social economic status of a Title One school meaning that more than 75% of our students qualify for free lunches. The majority of the students speak English as a second language and sometimes words get lost in translation.

The vision of this project is to provide a bank of words that will be used through kindergarten through fifth grade. As we start in the lower grade level the students will be introduced through a picture of the word and the word itself, and a brief description. When the students move up to the next grade the teacher will have the same chart but will have added additional information to the word and a more complex definition.  To see if this is effective the teachers will give pre-assessments on the words and the units that will be coming up, teachers can then see how much time they need to spend on reintroducing the topic and the meaning. The goal is for teachers to be spending less time on reteaching and having the ability to go deeper into the subject in the same amount of time. Since this is the first year to implement we can only really see the involvement in the students as the year progress with the understanding and the recall ability of the word and meaning. Once we begin next year we will have a better understanding on how the progress of this is coming and see where modifications are needed.

                Trying to find information on this topic is somewhat hard do to the neighboring topic of curriculum alignment. This research can be defined as a best practice cause it has the students achievement and understanding in mind, not only this but it involves the parents being up to date on the information the students are learning which will empower the parents and make them feel a part of the school community.

                To my colleagues I let them know that it is important to have a vertical aligned curriculum so students have a foundation for information they will be receiving in the next level. More important is the use of terminology this will help students be able to recall information at a quicker pace and have a better understanding of topic. The family-school-partnership will benefit the students and families by providing both parties with more understanding of the importance of vertically aligned terminology. This understanding will lend itself to the growth and academic success for students on campus.  Students will be on target for the next upcoming school year and less instructional time will be needed in order to catch them back up.  During my faculty meeting I set a task for us to determine an area of examination – in this case vertical alignment in the category terminology.  We broke into the alignment teams in each subject and started breaking down word repetition.  Next we worked as a campus to determine importance of common word meanings.  Through discussion and collaboration the vertical team will came up with a plan to get information from grade levels and start working on terminology chart.  After determining a plan of action we implemented the components of the action as a campus by delegating tasks and procedures.

 In addition, constant monitoring of results will be used to help determine the path in which we head as a campus according to parent surveys and parent understanding.

The action research project will reach many students who may struggle with recall and the English language. Not only will the words be there but the pictures will help. If further help is needed I would make the recommendation of video and audio so that all students will have the ability to have a basic understanding of the terms. For the words that we are able to have models we will introduce those to students who are struggling with the basic concept.

Action Reasearch Update

Well the progress of my action research is moving at a decent pace. I have been collecting information from teachers and coaches on how many words we want to track and move up through the lower grades to the higher grade levels. I have found with the start of school the project has taken a back seat to work happening at school and my newer classes.  The action part of this is a slow process due to trying to nail down the amount of words that will be tracking through the grade levels. I want it to be meaningful and on a level that all can benefit from it and make it something that teachers see and value. I think after the winter break when things start to settle down more I will be diving into it more and meeting with my vertical terminology team and start the process of setting the number of words and if we want to have a set guideline. Since we have vertical alignment teams here in all the subjects I will be talking to them all grade levels are represented in the circle. This way I can get input from the grade level reps and move forward. I will take that list and then move onto the coaches where we will fine tune the list and make sure the words can be broken down for lower grades to understand and have ways to implement the terms into lesson plans. Then I will go to the principal and get the approval to print and make them into charts.

It looks like i need help with how i ask people to help me, i have been told i come off as telling them they are helping, instead of asking. I'm glad people care enough to point these things out to me.

Here is the latest update on my action research plan, just some small modifications.

SCHOOL VISION: How can vertically aligned terminology increase students recall from previous years?  GOAL:  To have a vertical aligned terminology chart for the core subjects K-5. Outcomes Activities Resources/ Research tools needed Responsibility to address activities Time Frame Benchmarks/ Assessment Revisions based on monitoring and assessment Discuss importance of vertical alignment. Faculty Meeting Vertically aligned Teks Documents Administrators, faculty and staff September 2012 Create a survey on how the teachers feel about vertical alignment. Will create a vertical alignment team that will assist with development of programs to incorporate into the school year. Team will meet and discuss Teks and words that are associated with each grade level. Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement. Will go through and pull out things that teachers can do to help implement this in their classroom. Vertical alignment team members.  September 2012 Share with the team members about concerns of teachers in this area. eNews letter going out to parents talking about what is vertical alignment and how having an aligned terminology will help students. Will gather notes from meetings and compile an understandable definition to what we are doing. Meetings and some of Epstein’s framework that deals with parent involvement. Committee chair person September 2012 My contact information will be available for any questions or concerns. When surveys come back revaluate if parents need to be in the loop with a new school system. Parents are informed on use of terminology through the grade level courses. Parent Orientation How to prepare a checklist for meeting with parents and guardians – Steve Berta (article provided by Lamar University) Teachers, parents, September 2012 Parent survey sent home to determine understanding of curriculum and information regarding parent orientation Make revisions as necessary according to parent needs. Vertical team will meet with coaches to discuss math and literacy night and how to incorporate understanding of consistent terminology. Along with the home school connections. Planning Committee Meeting Meeting notes and TEKS documents Grade level representatives October 2012 Discuss parent survey from parent orientation to plan accordingly for math and literacy night Parents are informed of math /literacy curriculum and activities in which parents can work with students at home Math and Literacy Night Meeting notes and TEKS documents Teachers, administration, parents, students January 2013  Parent survey sent home to determine if night was beneficial and needs for improvement Make revisions as necessary according to parent and community needs Vertical alignment team will start creating a template that will be used for the core subjects: math, science, ELA. Planning Committee Meeting Meeting notes and TEKS documents Vertical alignment team and coaches. January 2013 Principal and Vice principal will approve or make recommendations Rework information and grid if need be. After chart has been approved, start making copies and give to all teachers so they can add the terminology into their lesson plans. Faculty Meeting Meeting notes and TEKS documents, Rework information and grid if need be. Vertical alignment team and coaches. January 2013 Will ask the principal and assistant to look for use of terminology throughout their walk through. Have teachers use this until April and then come back to meet with grade representatives to evaluate it. Grade level reps will give advice to what worked and what seemed natural to them. April assessment Teachers and grade level chair volunteers May 2013 Discuss outcomes and growth and determine adjustments for upcoming year Start a year with students who have been introduced to the terminology from prior year. Faculty Meeting Have students use prior knowledge to explain certain concepts with word association. Vertical alignment team and coaches. September 2013 Track use of terminology with the coach’s help. Discuss outcomes and growth and determine adjustments for upcoming year

I like the idea of getting feed back from people, but it seems the lack of visitors on my site is kinda annoying me and not helping the cause. I wonder if there is a better way to get people to come to my site and offer good suggestions. I might email out my blog site to my school staff so they can go and look over things,

Well this week was tougher then i thought it would be. Having an idea in your head and then putting it down on paper reveals many areas that your mind does not think about.  In my head its very simple thing to do but on parer it looks more complex. Add the fact that my mind is drifting to the up coming school year adds another element of uncertainty.

Well here is my first attempt on my plan. Insight will be welcomed and appreciated.

SCHOOL VISION: How can vertically aligned terminology increase students recall from previous years?  GOAL:  To have a vertical aligned terminology chart for the core subjects K-5. Outcomes Activities Resources/ Research tools needed Responsibility to address activities Time Frame Benchmarks/ Assessment Revisions based on monitoring and assessment Discuss importance of vertical alignment. Faculty Meeting Vertically aligned Teks Documents Administrators, faculty and staff August 2012 Create a survey on how the teachers feel about vertical alignment. Will create a vertical alignment team that will assist with development of programs to incorporate into the school year. Team will meet and discuss Teks and words that are associated with each grade level. Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement. Will go through and pull out things that teachers can do to help implement this in their classroom. Vertical alignment team members.  September 2012 Share with the team members about concerns of teachers in this area. News letter going out to parents talking about what is vertical alignment and how having an aligned terminology will help students. Will gather notes from meetings and compile an understandable definition to what we are doing. Meetings and some of Epstein’s framework that deals with parent involvement. Committee chair person September 2012 Parent survey sent home to determine understanding of topic and have a question area. When surveys come back revaluate if parents need to be in the loop with a new school system. Parents are informed on use of terminology through the grade level courses. Parent Orientation How to prepare a checklist for meeting with parents and guardians – Steve Berta (article provided by Lamar University) Teachers, parents, September 2012 Parent survey sent home to determine understanding of curriculum and information regarding parent orientation Make revisions as necessary according to parent needs. Vertical team will meet with coaches to discuss math and literacy night and how to incorporate understanding of consistent terminology. Planning Committee Meeting Meeting notes and TEKS documents Grade level representatives December 2012 Discuss parent survey from parent orientation to plan accordingly for math and literacy night Parents are informed of math /literacy curriculum and activities in which parents can work with students at home Math and Literacy Night Meeting notes and TEKS documents Teachers, administration, parents, students December 2012  Parent survey sent home to determine if night was beneficial and needs for improvement Make revisions as necessary according to parent and community needs Vertical alignment team will start creating a template that will be used for the core subjects: math, science, ELA. Planning Committee Meeting Meeting notes and TEKS documents Vertical alignment team and coaches. January 2013 Principal and Vice principal will approve or make recommendations Rework information and grid if need be. After chart has been approved, start making copies and give to all teachers so they can add the terminology into their lesson plans. Faculty Meeting Meeting notes and TEKS documents, Rework information and grid if need be. Vertical alignment team and coaches. January 2013 Will ask the principal and assistant to look for use of terminology throughout their walk through. Have teachers use this until April and then come back to meet with grade representatives to evaluate it. Grade level reps will give advice to what worked and what seemed natural to them. April assessment Teachers and grade level chair volunteers May 2013 Discuss outcomes and growth and determine adjustments for upcoming year Start a year with students who have been introduced to the terminology from prior year. Faculty Meeting Have students use prior knowledge to explain certain concepts with word association. Vertical alignment team and coaches. September 2013 Track use of terminology with the coach’s help. Discuss outcomes and growth and determine adjustments for upcoming year