Action Research Plan
Purpose
We know that our curriculum should be vertically aligned in
each grade. However, some qualifications that teachers include on report cards
are not necessary. The purpose of this
action research is to ensure teachers have only the necessary expectations for
their students. These grade level
expectations are the TEKS. We want to
prevent “over-teaching.” We also want to ensure that the students are being
tested on the actual TEKS each six weeks, not just receiving an “A for effort”
for doing well on worksheets.
Wonderings
Will "teaching to the TEKS" be an effective way of teaching to improve Reading and Math scores on AIMSWEB tests for grades K-2 and STAAR tests for grades 3-4?
In what ways can we, as an elementary campus, build our understanding of “teaching to the TEKS”? Is our CSCOPE curriculum effective in doing so?
Questions for Research
- Do teachers on our campus know
where to find the TEKS they should be responsible for each six weeks for
their grade level?
- Do all teachers know how to
navigate efficiently through CSCOPE online?
- What is the effectiveness of
giving grades based on grading worksheets versus grading students on
specific TEKS using a hands-on method of teaching and grading?
- Has “teaching to the TEKS”
improved our student’s scores on standardized testing in grades 3-4?
- Has “teaching to the TEKS”
improved our student’s AIMSWEB scores in grades K-2?
Data Collection
Methods
- Surveys from teachers based on
TEKS assessments taken once every six weeks
- Notes from the principal from
grade level meetings to discuss assessment results once every six weeks
- Reading and Math scores from
Mock STAAR tests and actual STAAR tests for the school years of 2011-2012
and 2012-2013
- Reading and Math scores from
AIMSWEB testing at the BOY, MOY, and EOY for the years of 2011-2012 and
2012-2013
With the help of our principal and curriculum director, I
will create a Google form for each grade level with check boxes for teachers to
simply choose an option stating if a student mastered the Reading and Math TEKS
tested on each six weeks or not. The
Reading and Math TEKS that the teacher should test on each six weeks will
automatically appear in their survey to ensure they know what they should have
tested on. The form will also have drop down lists for teachers to easily
choose their grade level and homeroom class to quickly find the student they
are reporting on. The teachers simply
submit the form to me each six weeks.
The principal and I will print the data each six weeks and post it on
data boards. There will be a data board
for each six weeks containing all the information collected from each grade
level. The principal will meet with each
grade level once every six weeks to discuss their grade level’s results,
concerns, and questions. At the end of
the year the principal and I will conduct a staff meeting to discuss our
findings. We will compare our AIMSWEB
scores and STAAR scores from the 2011-2012 school year to our 2012-2013 school
year results.
Implementing/Monitoring
a Timeline
Although our inquiry will be ongoing, or initial project
will begin in August 2012 and continue through May 2013. A presentation of the information to be
gained through this research will be given to the Campus administration at the
beginning of 2012. A professional
development seminar will then be scheduled to review the research with the
faculty and train the faculty on strategies for testing the TEKS. The principal and I will continue to monitor
and assess how effectively teachers are implementing “teaching to the TEKS” in
their classrooms.
Proposed Timeline
- June/July 2012: Work with principal and
curriculum director to create Google form for each grade level
Work with principal to organize testing materials needed for teachers
- August 2012: Presentation of information to be gained
form the research project given to the campus administration
- Introduce plan for collecting
data to teachers
Principal is to explain expectations and
testing procedures.
- September 2012: Collect data from 1st six
weeks testing
Collect a
copy of notes taken from grade level meetings with principal
- November 2012: Collect data from 2nd
six weeks testing
Collect a
copy of notes taken from grade level meetings with principal
- January 2013: Collect data from 3rd
six weeks testing
Collect a copy of notes taken from grade level meetings with principal
Faculty meeting to discuss first semester data findings
- February 2013: Collect data from 4th six weeks testing
Collect a copy of notes taken from grade level meetings with principal
- April 2013: Collect data from 5th six
weeks testing
Collect a copy of notes taken from grade level meetings with principal
- May 2013: Collect data from 6th six weeks testing
Collect a copy of notes taken from grade level meetings with principal
Collect data from 2012-2013 BOY, MOY, EOY AISMWEB scores for grades K-2
Collect data from 2012-2013 STAAR scores for grades 3-4
Faculty meeting to discuss data findings
We are working towards making our standards vertical aligned also in our parish. Next year we will begin implementing new "Common Core" standards which are supposed to make it where we are not repeating skills each year and all skills are taught by the time students graduate. It will be a long process for us with some grade levels in transition years (where they cover common core and comprehensive curriculum (what we have now)) to ensure that students don't miss any skill.
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