Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template Goals: 1.         To improve students’ ability to write cohesively and at grade level across all content areas in grades 2nd - 5th 2.       To further motivate students to become effective writers and develop a passion for it. 3.       To further develop teachers’ knowledge and passion in teaching writing for grades 2nd-5th Action Steps(s): Person(s) Responsible: Timeline: Start/End Needed Resources Evaluation Collect student journal and writing samples to find strengths and weaknesses and for further comparison the following school year. Teachers should choose a low, medium, and high sample in each classroom. Bilingual teachers should provide samples in both English and Spanish. Classroom teachers in grades 2-5. Mrs. Meneses May 2012 Student journals and writing samples Use grade level TEKS to identify patterns of strengths and weaknesses amongst grade levels. Create a campus blog where students and teachers share great writing samples and lessons Mrs. Meneses and any teachers on campus who would like to join the blog 4/2012 - 5/2013 Parental release form for students’ information to be published such as pictures and biographies. The blog is ongoing and will be evaluating whether or not students and teachers are further motivated by publishing great pieces of writing and sharing them with other teachers and students across the district and/or nation. Provide professional development for teachers that demonstrates how to use mentor texts to teach writing. Curriculum Specialist Throughout the 2012-2013 school year To be updated at a later time. This is dependent upon teacher surveys and other data analysis. Principal and curriculum specialists’ observations. Conduct writing curriculum based assessments three times a year, in grades 2-5. All classroom teachers Mr. Silverman September 2012 January 2013 May 2013 Curriculum based assessments for grades 2-5 Writing committee will record and analyze data by charting progress on given TEKS across grade levels. Teachers will use this data to guide instruction. Coordinating book-studies that focus on writing instruction. An effective author is Ralph Fletcher, who has several wonderful books on the topic. All classroom teachers who teach writing in grade level 2-5. 9/2012-12/2013 Ralph Fletcher literature (quantity to be determined at a later date) Teacher and student questionnaires will be used to determine effectiveness of book study. Lesson plans and classroom observations will be used to evaluate progress in both teachers and students. Using effective teachers to share knowledge through co-teaching, modeling instruction, and mentoring. Committee members Participating teachers Throughout the 2012-2013 school year Lesson plans, anchor charts, etc.  created by mentor teacher Teacher and student questionnaires will be used to determine effectiveness of book study. Lesson plans and classroom observations will be used to evaluate progress in both teachers and students. Using a video camera to record teachers executing effective writing lessons. These lessons will be used to share with and motivate other teachers. Writing committee members Participating classroom teachers Throughout the 2012-2013 school year Video camera Teacher and student questionnaires will be used to determine effectiveness of book-studies. Lesson plans and classroom observations will be used to evaluate progress in both teachers and students. Honor students with a WRITING AWARD every six weeks. One student per grade level is chosen. Writing committee chooses the winner each six weeks. Students are celebrated on our Hopkins blog and given a certificate. Classroom teachers Throughout the 2012-2013 school year (every six weeks when students are awarded Certificates and spirit sticks used during award ceremonies Both teachers and students will be surveyed to identify increase in academic progress and motivation.