Action Research week 2

This week's readings have focused on the 9 different areas that action research could take place. I was drawn to the areas of individual teacher and student. I work in the Special Education field and am typically focused on small populations of students. I like to know how programs and interventions affect those students and ways that I could make improvements. I have also moved several times within my 6 years of teaching. I have been able to participate in several different new teacher supports. I am always looking for ways to support other new teachers and bring new, innovative ideas to those teaching around me.

Action research needs to have a clear purpose and stated significance. The overall goal of any research is to improve student performance. Dana suggests that your question be "clear, concise, and specific; one whose answer you do not already know; free of judgmental language; phrased as an open-ended rather than dichotomous question; and "doable"."

Several quotes really seemed to strike me this week from Nancy Fichtman Dana's book Leading with Passion and Knowledge. See below:


"Principals who keep teachers invigorated keep learning vibrant and alive for students each school day."

"It is people, not programs, that determine the quality of a school. (Whitaker, 2003)"

"Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart" from The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner

"...the most productive administrator inquiries focus in some way on the adult and/or student learning occurring in your building."

"...allow your wondering to change and evolve over time as you engage in inquiry."

Reference:
Dana, N. (2009) Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Corwin. Thousand Oaks, California.