Action Research Plan

Anne-Lauren Marrs’ Action Research Plan
Question: How will utilizing strategies from the book Teaching with Love and Logic (Fay, Funk) affect students in the middle school classroom?
Goal: To build a better understanding for strategies that work when dealing with students in a middle school classroom setting using a structured approach to behavior management.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Attend a “Love and Logic” training by Kimberly Smith, a “Love and Logic” Trainer	Kimberly Smith	August 2013	Training materials provided by Ms. Smith	Complete and earn credit for professional development hours spent learning
Read Teaching with Love and Logic	Anne-Lauren Marrs	September 2013	Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay and David Funk	Notes taken for missed skills from original training
Keep a list of anecdotal notes that explain interactions in which “Love and Logic” strategies are used in the classroom	Anne-Lauren Marrs	September 2013-June 2014	Notepad or Microsoft office document	Use anecdotal notes to help prepare refresher course for teachers
Conduct teacher survey covering student behavior and utilization of “Love and Logic” strategies	Anne-Lauren Marrs and Martha Leal, Instructional Specialist	August – December 2013	Self-created surveys	Analyze the surveys; take information to formulate refresher course for teachers
Conduct campus refresher course on “Love and Logic” strategies	Anne-Lauren Marrs and Martha Leal, Instructional Specialist	Spring 2014	“Love and Logic” ancillaries and self-made ancillaries	End-of-development survey of new understanding to find out if teachers will use in their classrooms
Conduct end-of-year student survey	Anne-Lauren Marrs teamed with 8th grade ELAR teachers	June 2014	Team-Created Surveys	Anonymous paper surveys for data about students’ experiences in a “Love and Logic” classroom
Conduct end-of-the-year teacher survey	Anne-Lauren Marrs	June 2014	Self-created Surveys	Anonymous paper surveys for data about teachers’ experiences utilizing “Love and Logic” in their classrooms
Analyze both sets of surveys to see trends	Anne-Lauren Marrs	June 2014	Self-Created and Teacher-Created Surveys	Analyze surveys along with anecdotal notes to learn how students were affected by the use of “Love and Logic” strategies
Meet with campus administrative team to discuss findings	Anne-Lauren Marrs	June 2014	Findings organized in a meaningful way (PowerPoint)	Explain the process of the year’s work and discuss findings and how these findings can shape campus decisions for behavior management in the following school year\

Week 2: Action Research Decision!!!

I've finally decided on my Action Research topic...

Insert drumrole here.

I'm going to research the effects of using Love and Logic in my classroom.  Right now, my question is:

How does the implementation of "Love and Logic" strategies affect difficult students in the classroom?

What do you think?  I'm really excited about reading this book; I can't believe I haven't read it before now.

Week 2: The Passion of the Administrator

This week, I read about the 9 passions that drive our journey as administrators, and again, I was blown away by the sheer amount of "stuff" on which an administrator must focus.  The 9 passions are:
1. Staff Development
2. Curriculum Development
3. Individual Teachers
4. Indivdual Students
5. School Culture / Community
6. Leadership
7. Management
8. School Performance
9. Social Justice

How on earth do administrators know where to start?  No wonder they are seen as always putting out fires; it seems like there are too many plates to spin.  Don't get me wrong, these plates are all exciting ones, but I'm concerned that I won't know exactly how to juggle all of these.  Looks like I have lots to learn...

How Educational Leaders Can Use Blogs

How can educational leaders use blogs? Let me count the ways...

Educational leaders could and should use blogging to help them as they journey through action research, but they should also use them as a tool for self-reflection and journaling.  I think it's a great way to decompress.  As an English teacher, I would love to create a blog for my students to model good writing and to build relationships with them.

Action Research: A Definition and Reflection

This week, as part of my 5301 Research class, I have learned about what it means to complete action research.  At first, when I heard the term, I immediately began thinking about my experiences in middle school in the science fair and the scientific method.  Honestly, I was terrified, because I don't consider myself to be an expert in science.  After reading and synthesizing the information, though, I was able to talk myself off the proverbial ledge. 

Action research is simply an educational leader's way of improving things around him.  The process is cyclical and involves reflecting and analyzing.  From what I can see, one must reflect in order to know what is working and what might need work on his campus.  Based on his reflection and analysis of possible issues, a principal can then formulate questions to ponder for campus improvement.  I also have noted that this is not something that needs to be done in solitude.  Principals can create a group, or PLC, to engage in the action research project, and they can share with a cohort of other principals through meetings or blogs.  Action research is something that must be done on a regular basis, and because principals spend so much time reacting rather than acting, they must carve time out of their day for it.  

I am looking forward to my action research project, and while I was extremely concerned that I wouldn’t be able to come up with a topic when the class first started, I have been able to brainstorm six wonderings that could potentially all benefit my students.