The action research project is starting to take shape!  I am happy to post the process overview, as it stands right now.  I am starting to get a little bit excited about action research.  The possibilites are endless for what can be conducted through this process.

Action Research Project

Process Overview

Special Education Inclusion in the Regular Education Classroom

• Setting the Foundation-Because special education inclusion is the focus in the classroom in our organization, the success of the special education inclusion classroom as a whole has always been at the forefront of my discussions. The purpose of this study is to determine the success not only of the special education students, but the regular education students as well.

• Analyzing Data-Test scores from past and present TAKS tests will be analyzed for regular students that were not in special education inclusion classrooms last year. Test scores for students for benchmark tests given in the fall will be analyzed and compared with the scores from the tests given for this year. Electronic searches for data on how inclusion is being conducted and the success other schools are having with the way it has been implemented, verses the way it is implemented in the school where the research is being conducted.

• Developing Deeper Understanding-The history of inclusion in the school as well as opinions of those closest to its implementation will be interviewed . Additional electronic searches based on the data collected from the Diagnostician, department head of special education, as well as the principal and vice principal will be analyzed to determine the success of special education inclusion in other districts.

• Engage in Self-Reflection-Self reflection is key to making the action research project work successfully. As a result of this research project, what would be changed about the current format? If special education inclusion is already successful, what can be done so that teachers and students alike have the tools to continue to advance? If there is not enough support in the classroom, a presentation will need to be prepared and presented to the principal, vice principal, SBDM committee, and head of the special education department in order to secure the resources needed to ensure special education inclusion is successful in the future.

• Exploring Programmatic Patterns-A meeting with the vice principal and site supervisor, along with the head of the special education department and diagnostician, will determine the necessary steps needed to implement changes to the special education inclusion classroom. Any suggestions or concerns will be discussed during this time.

• Determining Direction-The question of whether the special education inclusion classroom is successful is what is being researched. The Vice principal, site supervisor, and special education head of the department have all been asked to collaborate with suggestions and any concerns they may have established. Electronic searches have been launched in order to create a better understand of research on this topic, as well as other solutions that are already in use.

• Taking Action For School Improvement-A written plan of action will be completed in order to ensure success on the action research project. A formative evaluation and summative evaluation will be conducted in order to determine the success of the special education inclusion classroom.

• Sustain Improvement-The overall goal of the action research project of determining the success of the special education inclusion classroom is not to conduct the research, and leave the findings alone. The data collected from the research as well as electronic searches on the subject will be used to acquire new knowledge and apply it to the classroom for the betterment of the teachers and students.

Another week toward completion of the Action Research Project!

     This week, we were asked to meet with our site supervisor in order to narrow down our action research topic.  As it stands right now, I will be conducting research in the area of classroom inclusion, and the benefits associated with ALL students.  As I was completing my studies this week, it occurred to me we should be doing action research all the time, even if informally.  Looking for a solution to the issues arising in the classroom and school as a whole occurs on a daily basis, even if it does not have a name.  I cannot wait to see the results this research is going to produce!

Teachers, Administrators, Leaders of all Shapes and Sizes on the Educational Battlefield Unite!

      Before the days of the internet, teachers and administrators relied on libraries of publications to compare data found from conducting research.  Today, technology has afforded us the opportunity to go so much further than the outdated pages of a book.  Sure, good research and publication in an educational journal is still relevant in today's education system, but sharing ideas about action research through the medium of blogging is a much newer and exciting way to share ideas and data with one's colleagues. Access to the results of the research is instant, and the data can be shown and analyzed by others seeking answers to education's big questions.    

Action research...What did I just say?

        This week, I began class #2 in my journey to complete my Master's degree in Educational Leadership.  At first, the idea of "research" seemed unbelievable, and quite frankly scary.  I have learned in my studies this week that action research is something that I am already doing from time to time on an informal basis in my classroom.  Simply put, it is choosing to reflect and collect data on a particular topic that is relevent in my classroom, as well as school.   Because I now know the importance of action research, and the role that reflection plays in being successful at this, I have learned the most valuable lesson of all this week...(drum roll please)..., it is human nature to make time for the things that are of importance in our lives!  When an effort is put into building time for inquiry into the daily routine, there will always be inquiry and reflection present and ready to utilize.  Now that I realize the choice is up to ME to be proactive in analyzing data and reflecting upon my decisions, I will most certainly be holding myself accountable when I do not "have time" for inquiry.  The reason I do not have time to find solutions to my biggest questions, is because I did not "make time".