It's a Process with PROGRESS!

My Action Research Progress Update:

August 15, 2012 was the kick off date of my action research plan.  The instructional coaches and curriculum coordinators presented the district initiatives at the principal’s meeting.  Included in this presentation were the Effective Instructional Strategies.  Since then the Curriculum and Instruction Team has participated in training from McRel (Marzano’s original company when the first edition of Classroom Instruction That Works was written).  We have been trained on conducting classroom Power Walk-throughs that primarily look for effective instructional strategies.  The instructional coaches have 3 goals this school year that tie to our district strategic plan and one revolves primarily around my action research plan.  The first step we did in preparing teachers and training teachers on effective instructional strategies was to map out in what order we would present the strategies.  We were very excited during our training with McRel to learn that the order we had planned to train teachers was the same order that McRel presents the strategies during their training.  Even though some strategies have a higher yield of improvement than others, you must start with creating the learning environment.  The other progress we have made on the action research plan is setting dates and beginning what we have called “Workshop Series”.  Some campuses have set the workshop series to be twice a month during common time (30 minutes, whole staff).  Other campuses are holding their workshop series during conference times once a month( 45 minutes, just one grade level at a time).  On November 1 we will begin our initial round of Power Walk-throughs to gather our initial data on effective instructional strategies happening in the classrooms.  At this time I am very pleased with the progress and track that I am on with my action research.  I would have liked to have my initial data by November 1 rather than just starting it November 1 but this allows administrators to receive the training as well which I will be able to add their data to mine which in turn will allow me to gather data more quickly than I would alone.  

Progress Hours to Date:

Training that I have attended: 12 hrs
Preparing for trainings and presentations I conducted: 6 hrs
Conducting trainings and presentations: 18 hrs
Practice Walkthroughs: 3 hrs

TOTAL HOURS: 39 hours