Action Research Plan

Action Research Project

Improving the Reading Intervention Component of the RTI Process

1.    Setting the Foundation

After meeting  with my principal, assistant principal and counselor it was determined that their was a real need in improvement of the reading intervention component of our campus’ RTI process.

2.    Analyzing Data

Upon gathering data in regards to this problem, it showed that there were a large number of students being brought up by teachers for entrance in the Tier 1 phase of the RTI process. These students were falling below grade level in reading and the teachers did not have the necessary materials to attempt intervention in their classrooms.

3.    Developing Deeper Understanding

In discussing the problem with my principal, assistant principal, counselor and teachers, it was determined that their was a real need for quality reading intervention materials readily available for teachers to use with these below level students in their classrooms prior to bringing them up for discussion in RTI meetings.

4.    Engage in Self-Reflection

Do I possess enough knowledge of reading instruction to successfully select quality activities for use with reading intervention?

Where will I find the appropriate resources and activities?

How will I distribute these to the teachers effectively?

How will I monitor the success and use of these activities in the classroom?

5.    Exploring Programmatic Patterns

To avoid this project becoming to large and overwhelming, I have decided to narrow the scope of this project to include only third grade students and teachers. This will allow me the ability of closely monitoring the implementation, easily evaluating whether in alterations or adjustments need to be made along the way. If this project is successful, I hope to add in the other grade levels in the future.

6.    Determining Direction

Am I clear in what I am trying to solve?

Have I addressed all skills and resources?

Am I using a collaborative approach?

Are my timelines realistic?

Will I be able to monitor the project?

How will I evaluate the project’s success?

How will I revise and improve the project based on results?

7.    Taking Action for School Improvement

          

Action Planning Template
Goal: To reduce the number of third grade students being moved from Tier 1 to Tier 2 in the RTI process due to below grade reading levels, while enabling teachers to successfully conduct reading interventions with their students in their own classrooms using easily accessible quality activities.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Research, alter and compile relevant and quality reading intervention activities for use by the third grade teachers with their below grade level readers.	-Myself -Counselor	July 1st- August 15th, 2012	-District RTI materials -Assorted RTI/Reading Interventions from other sources (districts, campuses, websites, learning blogs, etc…)	-Relevance to the needs of our campus - Ease of use by teachers - Student gains in reading levels
Meet with the third grade teachers to establish a baseline for making a list of students whom will be looked at during research	-Myself -Third Grade Teachers	September 1st- October 15th, 2012	-WRAP Results -Guided Reading Levels -Reading Test Scores (ITBS) -Reading average	Successful completion of list of third graders who are reading below grade level
Third Grade Teachers will use reading intervention materials in their classroom with their below grade level readers.	Third Grade Teachers	October 15th, 2012 - June 1st, 2013	Reading Intervention Activities	Students reading levels and test scores on the rise, alter and adjust activities as necessary.
Meet with the third grade teachers at RTI meetings, team meetings, and individually to discuss the success of their below grade level readers.	-Myself -Third Grade Teachers -Counselor -Principal/ Assistant Principal	October 15th, 2012- June 1st, 2013	-WRAP Results - Guided Reading Levels - Test Scores	Students reading levels and test scores on the rise, alter and adjust activities as necessary.
Look at the numbers of students remaining in Tier 1, those who have advanced to Tier 2 and those who have been exited from the RTI process.	-Myself -Counselor -Principal/ Assistant Principal	May 1st – June 1st, 2013	-Tier Reports -Intervention Lists	The number of students at various levels of the RTI process. If the project has shown significant declines in the numbers of students advancing and remaining in RTI, then begin to add activities for the remaining grade levels.

8.    Sustain Improvement

Report and share the success of my project with the rest of the campus, other ELA Peer Facilitators and parents. Broaden the project to include the remainder of the grade levels on my campus and strive to research alter and compile quality reading intervention activities for all teachers.

Use of Blogs As Educational Leaders
Educational leaders could benefit from the regular use of blogs in many ways. Blogs would allow them to stay connected to other professionals in similar situations where they could discuss problems and their possible solutions. It also allows them to pinpoint other colleagues who might be able to provide valuable insight, and at the same time gives them the opportunity to share successes that they have experienced themselves.

Action Research
Action research is a dynamic process in which you are learning by doing, creating, and changing. It allows you to implement newly learned information, while adapting it to best meet the needs and demands of your situation. You are able to take what you are learning, learn from it and write the next chapter for future learning. It is an interactive process between the learner and the method where changes are constantly taking place in order for the application to stay relevant to the situation. Reflection is a crucial piece of the process to communicate what is currently taking place, what needs to be altered, and how to move forward in order to be successful.

I truly look forward to using action research both in my Ed Admin classes, as well as professionally on my campus. I can already see many areas that would benefit greatly from action research. As a Peer Facilitator/Instructional Coach, I will utilize it to help improve the delivery of instruction on my campus,assist teachers in making planning easier, and helping students to raise their level of achievement. Looking further into the future, as an administrator, the use of action research will be crucial to insure the success of my campus.