Final Reflections

From web conference I was able to keep track of what was going on.  My classmates asked questions that I also had and I got answers to help me with my week’s work.  I was able to see what other classmates where thinking and worried about.  I did feel that the web conference were too late in the week.  I am someone who does most of the week’s work during the weekend before and could have used the lecture on Monday or Tuesday.  The video lectures outlined what the week was going to be about and gave me an understanding of the week’s assignment.  The readings, assignments and activities gave me an understanding of what an action research is and its benefits.  I learn about the importance of self reflection and how it can help for self improvement in ones practice.  Now I have an understanding of how to start an action research and steps that are needed throughout the action research.   I gained an understanding of what data can be used and how data can be collected to conduct action research.   I know that during the summer principal go to meeting and trainings.  During the year they implement what they learned and train their teachers.  Now I know that principals were at meetings discussing action research topics and during the school year implementing their research.  From blogs I was able to gain ideas from other classmates.  At first I was really confused about making an outline for my action research.  I did not understand what I was to do so I looked though my classmate’s outlines to give in an idea of how to start mine.  I was able to blog most of group and e-mail them through blackboard asking them to blog me.  Some of my classmate blogged me useful information.  For example, things to look out for and what they would change.  Another classmate blogged me that they like my action reach and find it useful for them.   My classmates work in different school districts that are run differently and have different programs.  One of my classmates mentioned that her school uses BIPs on non special education students.  The only BIPs I seen have been on special education students.  I am able to tell that if I were to work in another school district that has BIPs on non special education students my action research would need to include different things to it.  I also was able to see what issue other schools have from my classmates by reading their action research’s topics.  Other schools are working with increasing technology and how to keep track of records from technology programs.  The discussion board gave me feedback to concerns I had for my action research.  I read my classmate's replies and learned what they would do to overcome challenges I see.  I also got to see what challenges they might have and replied what I would do in their position. 

Future Implementation

Once this class is finished I plan to start my first step in my action research by informing my co-workers of my topic.  I will then start looking for information about discipline in schools and analyze strategies currently being used.  From here I will follow my action research template and if anything needs to be changed I will see how to change it.  

Final Action Reseach Template

	Action Planning Template
Goal: Lower discipline problems by effective behavior management strategies.
Action Steps(s):		Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Examining the work: Setting the Foundation   Let others on campus know that I will be implementing behavior management strategies research to try to find way to lower discipline problems by effective behavior management  strategies		My self Site supervisor School staff	November 2012 to December 2012	The DAEP school I work in and the students assigned   Online database, websites, and literature.	Other’s agreement Supervisor/ professor
Analyzing data   Investigate history, expectations and  discipline of DAEP schools   Analyze strategies that are currently being used and their results		My self	December 2012 to February 2013	Online database, websites, and literature. Feedback from principals, other teachers and classmates	Analyze if current strategies are successful by statements in the resources used and by feedback from co-workers
Developing deeper understanding   Analyze what different discipline strategies can be added, what modifications are needed according to student’s age, how can discipline be upheld through a student’s schooling.		My self	February 2013 to March 2013	Active listening to student’s concerns   Have group intervention with students on behavior management strategies	Self refection on reasons behind why students have behavior problems     Feedback from principal, other teachers and classmates from results
Engaging in Self-Reflection   Implement different strategies   Reflect if different strategies being implemented are helping students		My self	March 30 2013 to April 30 2013	Knowing what triggers student What can be done to help the student gain better self control   Revision strategies	See if office referrals and student’s strike card improve.   Observation of student’s behavior, teacher feedback
Exploring Programmatic Patterns   Observe student’s behavior after discipline strategies was implemented		My self Other teachers	Nov 2012 to May 2013	office referrals and student’s strike card    keep eye out if students show improvement keep track if same misbehavior repeats	See if student can self correct See if office referrals and student’s strike card improve   Time between discipline problems arising again.
Determining direction   Gain feedback from other teachers through staff meeting to see if they recognize a difference in student’s behavior		My self Other teachers	Nov 2012 to May 2013	Feedback from whether or not students discipline problems are being lowered	Counting referrals and checking student’s strike card for improvement.
Taking action for school improvement   Continue to Implement different strategies that work.  Document which strategies work for which student.		My self Other teachers	Nov 2012 to May 2013	Feedback from other teachers	Feedback from other teachers Share information during staff meetings  observation of each student behavior
Sustaining improvement   Share information gained to other staff members at the end of research See what can be continued Pass information to home campus teachers		My self Other teachers	Nov 2012 to May 2013	Effective communication from other teachers	See what can be applied to the next school year

 

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

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Examining the work: Setting the Foundation

Through talks with my site supervisor we discussed the problems of students are placed repeatedly.  There is a need to teach students to make better decisions, control their temper and anger.  The school’s image should be of a place where students come to learn behavior management through proper discipline. 

 

Analyzing data

We are an alternative discipline school that addresses behavior.  One way to see if students improve their behavior is by a strike system that is used.  The strike system is a documentation of student’s behavior.  A student having many strikes leads to office referrals and lowering student’s score level.  Another way that is more noticeable is by observation.  When students get upset it shows at that moment.  A student can either get frustrated or use self control.

 

Developing deeper understanding

My goal is to investigate different behavior management strategies that can be used by DAEP schools to help lower discipline problems.  To gain a deeper understanding of what a DAEP school is and who it serves I will research the history of DAEP schools and expectations of DAEP schools.    I will start by looking for information about DAEP schools by using: online database, websites, observation and literature.  I will read about discipline strategies that are currently being used and their results.

 

Engaging in Self-Reflection

I am self reflecting on whether behavior problems can be lowered.  We are already a school for second chances but for some reason we have students that get sent more than once in a school year.  Is it possible to teach behavior management to studes with their own believes.  Will my information be welcomed by other teachers?

Exploring Programmatic Patterns

The main programmatic pattern we have is students being sent more than once and others preferring to be at a DAEP school.  Many of the students we serve come from families where someone is in jail.  In order to work with students we need to understand their norms.  The programmatic pattern comes from how can we teach behavior management when their family norms are to end up in jail.  One thing we do is bring in outside organizations that help students by counseling them and doing presentations about drugs, abuse and good relationships.           

 

Determining direction

There are two main priorities at the DAEP I work in.  One is the content of each subject and the other is discipline.  Each teacher teaches their subject but together we all need to teach discipline.  The first step we take as teachers is to get to know the student.  Some of the students we receive have trouble trusting people.  Get to know the students we gain their trust.  At the same time we let the students know what the expectations are.  When a student does not meet an expectation, determining which direction to take becomes the next step.  As teachers, we can write referrals and the principal can suspended the student.  Suspending a student does not seem to be an answer.  My action research at this point will investigate what directions the school can take instead of relying on office referral and suspending students.                

 

Taking action for school improvement

 

I have thought about what steps will be needed and resources I will need.  Most of my steps and resources will have to depend on the students we have at the time.  Students stay for thirty days and then go back to their home campus.  So we change students every thirty days but not all at the same time.  Sometime the students we get will be harder to teach behavior management than others.  At times there will be one student who is very disruptive and that causes other students to follow.  When this happens results look as if they are taking a downfall.  Strategies need to be changed and discussed.       

 

Sustaining improvement

 

I am aware of the fact that students discipline will always need to change.  Students and parent’s attitude about education is changing constantly.  Parent support is needed for discipline and it seems to be getting harder to get parent involvement.  Every year I have been hearing about school cuts and teacher layoffs.  Student to teacher ratio is increasing.  With more students in every class more discipline problems arise.  Continued improvement and continued education on discipline can be taken to sustain improvement.