This week I have learned that I will be on a campus in Ft. Worth. I am supre excited yet nervous. I seem to have great chemistry with my principal and I do not want that to be an issue when it is time for me to take on leadership roles. I am not sure how people will respond to a new comer taking on roles as a leader. We will see how it goes.

Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: To determine how socioeconomic status affects student attendance.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Obtain a copy of the Aldine district policy on student attendance	T. Washington	August 2012	District website and internet access	None
Relay district attendance policy to parents by phone, parent meeting, handout through students and all call	T. Washington or second grade team leader	September- October 2012 within the first six weeks	Parent information, document camera, meeting space, handouts Student video or PowerPoint on student attendance.	Did parents get information in a timely manner?
Create parent survey to determine reasons that they might think missing school is acceptable Clarify what is considered to be unexcused absences	Created by T. Washington and Dr. Nedra Washington rolled out by second grade team	Open House- End of first six weeks	survey	Analyze survey results
Conduct a focus group to interview parents on video. Obtain SES information from survey distributed in focus group	T. Washington	September- October 2012	Enrollment information	What are the results?
Research affective attendance incentives for parents make sure their student get to school	T. Washington	October-November 2012	EBSCO and Lamar Student library	Have I found any valuable information?
Create a calendar for looking at student absences and grades	T. Washington	Every six weeks after Thanksgiving break.	Microsoft Works	Is there a correlation?
Use a data system to find connections between SES and absenteeism	T. Washington	Every six weeks after Thanksgiving break.	Unknown data system	Is there a correlation?
Suggest possible incentive plan for parents for the following school year	T. Washington	2013-2014	Incentive plan	None
Compile and analyze all data collected	T. Washington	July 2013	All collected data	What were my results?

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Using Blogs in Education

Educators could use blogs for professional development, teaching ideas and also as a support system. There are teachers out the with great ideas and they are willing to share. Blogging is a great place to showcase lessons, activities, stories and ideas. Bloggers who are well informed on a topic could certainly use their blog spot to train teachers on their topic of expertise. Teachers who are feeling alone and overwhelmed can use blogging as a sort of professional community of support.

Action Research

 Action research has replaced the dated process product method of enlightening professionals in the education field. Through my research and readings I now see how imperative it is for  educators and administrators to have a hands on approach when it comes to their immediate campuses. Its not good enough simply to take someone's word for what might work on my designated campus. In fact, it is nearly impossible to get a reliable and functioning to a campus problem, from someone who is not physically present. That was the traditional way that educators depended on information in order to solve campus issues. Action inquiry is not only for administrators, but for teachers as well. In fact, when teachers conduct action research it becomes an extension on instructional strategies that they can revisit at a later date. I've learned that this can also be used to define and issue and use research to connect theory to practice. Before now, I have to be honest, I did not know how to go from identifying a classroom problem to implementing a solution. (Not in all instances anyway.) Action research is a valuable tool especially if you are a new administrator or a seasoned one trying to right the things that aren't where they should be on your campus. The things that were stated begin doesn't even begin to describe all that I have learned about action research, but its somewhere for you to start if you are curious about it. I will leave you with one way I would use action research on my campus. During campus professional development in the summer, have teachers pull cum folders of tiered students. Having other professionals to collaborate with while you come up with a game plan for these students is a very valuable tool. I have included a video sample from you tube for you to view.

This is a video of some LGSD staff using the PLC meeting to collaborate on learning.