October Update

October Update: We only have two Project LEAD classes because of exams and early release this month. Our lesson on October 8th was simple. We saw the need to review the dress code with students. On October 15th students were able to do a report reflection over the 1st six weeks. I will use theses reflections to gather data on what students feel that need to improve their grades. We are going to look at these reflections again at the next report card cycle to see if there was any change. Hopefully, it will provide me with information for future lessons in our Project LEAD.

Week 3

Yesterday was week 3 in our Project LEAD program. Students completed a survey on test taking responsibilities. I wanted to see what students felt they were responsible for and what they felt the teachers are responsible for.  I also provided students with a handout on test taking strategies, which include before the test, taking the test and after the test is completed. In talking with some students they liked the survey but the strategies they found boring. In future lessons I need to think of a different way to present strategies.

Next week is an exam week, so there will not be a Project LEAD class but hopefully that will give me the chance to prepare the next few activities.

Week 2

Yesterday we completed our 2nd week of Project LEAD with our students. This week we had a variety of lessons instead of all the grade levels doing the same thing. The 9th grade received planners and shown by our Ambassadors how to use them effectively. The 10th-12th grade students did different activities on Time Management. We wanted them to evaluate how they spend their time during a day. We had them break down sleeping, eating, studying, etc. then how could they manage their time better.

In talking with some students they felt it was effective because they didn't realize how much they were wasting. So, hopefully this will be the first step in managing their time better.

Week 1

In getting ready for Week 1 of my Action Research I am still making adjustments. Program LEAD is now Project LEAD. I have all the teachers and students assigned to classrooms, so everyone has a place to go. We completed our first lesson yesterday. I called it "Linking Our Successes" and we created a paper chain for the school. We wanted to help students understand that every individual at HHS is an essential piece of the puzzle. I had every student and teacher write their name and two qualities they have to offer our school to become successful on their own link. I also gave them the options to decorate. Every advisory class created the paper chain then I had a member from each class come down to join our links together. At first the students were not to sure about completing this activity but they were very surprised and happy when they saw the finished project. I will be adding pictures soon.

Update on my Action Research Plan

As I start the 2012-2013 school year at Hargrave High School I am ready to put my Action Research into action. I am going to have to make some changes to my current plan but so far it is only minor. I have a teacher assigned to each grade level to help me oversee the assignments and gather data. We are going to call the character education program LEAD. LEAD stands for Loyal-Empathetic-Aware-Driven. We are incorporating this new program with our mission of Finding the Leader in Every Child. I am spending this week setting up the advisory classes and teachers and I will start planning the lessons next week.

The Future of My Action Research Plan

As my Research course is coming to an end my Action Research has only begun. I hope you will follow as my real journey begins in August when I implement my plan. I will post my progress, results, problems that I am faced with and hopefully success stories to share in May. I have learned in this course feedback is crucial and I hope that I will receive not just from my campus but my Research classmates.

In completing my assignment for my course I wrote a reflection of the highlights from the course and I included part of it below.

Between the discussions and blogs my classmates helped me with my Action Plan by asking questions that would be similar to what might be asked by teachers on my campus. I think in the way we were taught to complete the steps and help each other I was able to eliminate some potential problems just by others reviewing my plan. I think what is going to be more helpful than anything is that it doesn’t end just because we are at the end of this course.

I feel more confident in implementing my Action Research because I know that I will continue to share my progress on my blog and I will continue to get feedback from those who started with me and have been following from day one. In return I will be able to do the same with their Action Research plans.

Changes in Action Research

At this time I am not going to make any changes to my Action Research Plan. We feel that there is enough flexibility within the plan and that it is a work-in-progress. So if needed, we can address any issues and make the recommended change.