Part 3 Action Research Plan

Action Research Project

Process Overview

Lunch Detention

1.       Setting the Foundation – Teachers feel our current lunch detention plan is ineffective in reducing unwanted behaviors in the school during classes, lunch, or in the hallways. There are numerous repeat offenders assigned detention for the same offense over and over.  We, my site supervisor and I, would like to know if an isolated, firmly monitored lunch detention affect the overall number of students assigned to detention, number of repeat assignments to detention, and student behaviors in classrooms and hallways? We would like to see a reduction in attendance, a reduction in repeat offenders, and a reduction in unwanted behavior in the classroom.

2.       Analyzing Data:

a.        I will review Lunch Detention Assignment Log for number of students assigned, breakdown assignments and calculate repeat offenders, breakdown repeat offenders placed for repeat offenses.

b.      I will create a Teacher Survey evaluating current lunch detention program and current usage of program.

c.       I will research lunch detention programs via internet.

3.       Develop a Deeper Understanding:

a.        Interview with Principal, Sarah Weeks, discuss legalities of sack lunch provided over going through the cafeteria for hot meal, and discuss policies and procedures of the proposed lunch detention plan.

b.      Interview with Assistant Principal, Mike Beaupre, to discuss policies and procedures of proposed lunch detention.

c.       Meet with grade level teams to discuss policies and procedures of proposed lunch detention.

d.      I will meet with the Cafeteria Manager, Jackie White, to obtain procedures of requesting sack lunches.

e.      I will meet with Maintenance Supervisor, Robby Waller, to find a classroom with desks and chairs empty through lunches available to house lunch detention.

4.       Engage in Self-Reflection:

a.       Can I facilitate all 3 lunch detentions?

b.      If downtown does not approve sack lunches, what are our alternatives?

c.       Can I enforce all the rules to all the students in detention alone?

d.      Are there enough desks to accommodate the maximum number of students assigned lunch detention in the past?

5.       Exploring Programmatic Patterns:

a.       Will students report to the correct location for lunch detention?

b.      Will a reduction in attendance correlate with a reduction in unwanted behaviors in class and halls?

c.       Will parents have a problem with sack lunches?

d.      Is there enough time for the students to write a 200 word essay on their behavior?

e.      What will students do with extra time after writing and eating?

f.        What will be done with students there are not enough desks for?

6.       Determining Direction –

a.       I want to know if a an isolated, firmly monitored lunch detention affect the overall number of students assigned to detention, number of repeat assignments to detention, and student behaviors in classrooms and hallways?

b.      We have rearranged my schedule so that I can facilitate all 3 lunches. If downtown does not approve sack lunches, we will take them into the lunch room single filed to get their lunch and they are only allowed the regular lunch with no extra goodies.  IF there becomes a problem in the detention room, I will have a radio for assistance to the Assistant Principal, Principal, Campus Monitor and Police Liaison. If there are too many students to desk/chair ration, there are risers in the room that they will sit on, yet follow the same rules. I will be providing a list of detention students to the teachers prior to the students’ lunch who will remind students of their detention and where to report. With data collection we will find out the correlation between lunch detention and behavior and new detention verses old detention. If parents have a problem with the sack lunches, they will be referred to the principal and provided documentation of the school meeting all nutrition requirements.  Students will continue to follow the rules of sitting silently, straight forward, not looking around, waiting for the end of detention.

c.       I will meet with all grade level for their input and survey all teachers on campus. As the implantation progresses input will be asked of all teachers and administrators to keep collaboration going and reach the best results.

d.      This will be implemented until the end of the year. I will be looking at data weekly to document patters but taking an overall look in the middle (about 6 weeks into implementation) and at the end (14 week overall program). I will take the summer to review documentation and come up with results and presentation for the beginning of the new school year with recommendations of how to proceed and any ways we can enhance the program to achieve better results.

e.      With data collections, surveys and personal observations I believe I have a sound means of monitoring the project.

f.        Determining the level of success will be with data of students assigned, number of repeat offenders all compared to previous and to initial start of implementation. Also, the results of surveys from teachers will help in determining if there is a correlation in the students’ behavior in the classroom and hallways.

g.       Revisions will be made as we go and intercept issues. Recommendations will be made to the Principal and Assistant Principal for improving the plan. Adjustments will be made as necessary to accommodate the highest level of results.

7.       Taking Action for School Improvement – A written summary of results will be done and a presentation with graphs and other visuals will be made to deliver the results to all stakeholders interested.

Sustain Improvement – A presentation will be ready for professional development with graphs and other visual aids to make understanding of the program and its effectiveness easy.

Action Research Plan

Action Planning
Goal: To prove that an isolated and firmly monitored lunch detention reduces the overall number of students assigned to detention, the number of repeat assignments to detention, and the unwanted behaviors in classrooms and hallways?
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Find room available for lunch detention	Ginger Potts/ Principal Sara Weeks/ Head Maintenance Robby Waller	1/28-2/1	Unoccupied room from 11:15am- 1:00pm Desks, Chairs	Walk through if set up is ready
Approval from District Cafeteria Manager for sack lunches	Ginger Potts/ Cafeteria Manager Jackie White	1/28-2/8	Letter typed	Final Approval received from District
Parent Notification	Ginger Potts/ Last Period Teachers	1/28- 2/7	Letter typed Copies made Distribution to students	Notification delivered to all students last period
Detention Rule Sheet	Ginger Potts	1/28-2/1	Rules approved, Sheet typed, Copies made	Reviewed by Assistant Principal Mike Beaupre, Approved by Principal Sarah Weeks
Lined Paper and Pencils	Ginger Potts	2/1	Supply of Lined Paper and Pencils bought to provide students	Check for efficient number of supply
Teacher Survey	Ginger Potts	1/28-2/1	Survey Monkey Site Prepare Questions	Survey results tallied and documented
Teacher notification of new policies and procedures	Ginger Potts	1/28-2/5	Email Survey, letter with rules	Meet with teams to ensure understanding and address questions
Pull prior Lunch detention data	Ginger Potts/ Mike Beaupre	2/1	Google Doc printed	Search for patterns of repetition and how many teachers are using the system in place, record reasons for assignment.
Begin Implementation	Ginger Potts/ Mike Beaupre	2/8 – 6/7	Classroom, Sack lunches, Rule sheet, lined paper, pencil, teacher assignment document, Students	Keep track of Students assigned/reassigned, enforce rules, student survey and observations
Teacher Mid Survey Reflection	Ginger Potts	4/15	Survey Monkey Site prepare questions	Tally Survey Results Document patterns Document changes reflect on effectiveness
Teacher End Survey	Ginger Potts	6/7	Survey Monkey Site prepare questions	Tally Survey Results Document patterns
Compile research findings	Ginger Potts	6/7-8/1	All data and observations	Write a summary of findings Create a graph showing visual effectiveness or ineffectiveness
Report Findings	Ginger Potts	8/1	Summary and supporting documentation	Send Report to Assistant Principal, Principal, and Teachers at School and any other interested stakeholders

Change in Action Research Topic

I really am interested in finding out if e-books would be more efficient, beneficial, and economical to use over text books, but this topic is a much bigger project than I could undertake. In collaboration with my site supervisor and our assistant principal, we decided we would like to try to get a solid lunch detention program in place. My question is, will an isolated, firmly supervised lunch detention reduce attendance in detention and repeat offenders, all the while, providing a better learning environment in the classroom by reducing the number of minor behavior problems that require lunch detention assignment.

I am looking forward to assessing this and finding out if my hypothesis is correct.

How educators might use blogs

Educators can use blogs as a source of communication to parents and students on supplies, downloads and links. Teachers can use blogs to converse with students and students converse with each other. Educators can publish newsletters or updates and allows editing easily. Students can post work and thoughts about lessons. Educators can share lesson plans. Extra curricular activities can use it to keep up with dates times and events.

What I have learned about action research and how to use it

Action research is a method of investigation with 4 steps that continues over and over as a work in progress.  Action research is a self reflective study.  This type research is to help oneself find current issues within their own environment, collect relevant data from their environment, analyze their data and read relevant materials that address similar issues and studies, make applicable changes with the new understanding, continue to reevaluate and share results. The insight gained of why one does what they do and what results are being obtained once the action research is being done results in educators making better choices and with being emerged in all aspects of research increases the probability of change based on results determined throughout the process because they are come tell involved throughout the whole research process.  This process takes out the feeling of just implementing "outsiders" findings who are detached from the educators individual environment and dynamics.  Educators need to be problem solvers not just facilitators as dynamics change within a classroom often if not daily by period.  The benefits of action research include educators are using real life practices to themselves. Educators are investigating their own problems. Also, educators are emerged in the process from beginning to end resulting in them buying into needed changes with results in them implementing needed changes.