Week 3: Draft Action Reseach Project Report

Week 3 Assignment, Part 3 Draft Action Research Project Progress Report The purpose of my proposed Action Research Project is to create a school that promotes a community of belonging, acceptance, caring, and understanding for all through the implementation of a peer buddy support program. All stakeholders will benefit from this initiative; students, teachers, administrators, community and parents. Providing an opportunity for friendships to be developed students and general education students between special education In the secondary school settings, I have noticed students without disabilities and students with disabilities separated in the classrooms, cafeteria and other environments. As a Life Skills teacher, it saddens me to see my students being looked over or made fun of due to the lack of knowledge or unawareness. Based on research, the peer buddy program (C.A.R.E. Buddies) will increase disability awareness and benefit community stakeholders. My decision to implement the peer buddy program (C.A.R.E. Buddies) is based on two years of observation (informal data) of a true disconnect of the school, students, and students with disabilities. The vision for the Peer Buddy Program (C.A.R.E. Buddies) at Woodcreek Middle School develops a collaborative caring culture for students with disabilities, students without disabilities, teachers, administrators and parents? Individualized Benefits and Objectives Associated with peer buddy programs: Students with disabilities will learn new social, academic, and life skills while expanding friendships and activities with their general education peers. Students without disabilities will develop new friendships Increase their advocacy skills and awareness of disability issues Gain additional knowledge about people in general and those with disabilities General and Special Education Teachers will benefit by increasing their opportunities for communication and collaboration with each other as they help support students across school environments and activities. Administrators will improve the school climate by supporting practices that foster a caring school community and align school practices with school reform efforts and legislation related to inclusion Parents will find their goals of increased friendships; academic performance, community service, and character development for their children are addressed through peer buddy relationships and experiences. After reading the book, Peer Buddy Programs: for Successful Secondary School Inclusion by Carolyn Hughes and Erik Carter, I decided to implement some of the research based ideas from this book to change the culture on my campus as it relates to students with disabilities. My action plan will consist of is a critical inquiry group dealing with research and implementing best practices for the service learning peer buddy program that is outlined in the test by Hughes and Carter (2008). The critical inquiry group will have students, counselors, administrators, teachers and parents to help create and implement the program. The overall benefits of the program will increase disability awareness and make all students feel more comfortable at school. I have shared my action research project through oral presentations, school website and teacher website. I have done presentations for both the staff and for parents. Our building principal has informal meetings each month called Chat N Chews at local restaurants. I plan to share some information there and have some more formal meetings at the school for the parents. I have presented all the information to the site-based decision making team and leadership team with supporting data about the program implement and student involvement progress. As the creator of the peer buddy program, I assumed all the duties and related responsibilities to ensure that the program was running effective. During the planning stages, I collaborated with several member of the campus instructional leadership team. Fortunately, the program at this stage has not required any additional funding. The plan included taking our students with disabilities to extracurricular activities and eating lunch at the same tables with their general education peers. To ensure safety, they were supported with additional para-educators and their parents. I am fortunate to have an understanding administrative team that understands my passion for students with disabilities. After collaborating and sharing my vision for the development of the peer buddy program they gave me full reins to lead the project as planned. My parents have been very supportive and appreciative of the efforts to include their children in more school activities and the school. It is my goal to provide the students with disabilities an opportunity to feel welcome at school and opportunity to experience school as “normal” students. Peer buddy support programs will: • Increase disability awareness • Build Self Esteem • Educate students about Disabilities • Promote People First Language i.e., A student with an Intellectual Disability instead of A Mentally Retarded student. • Develop career interests through service-learning experiences with both general and special education students, • Create and develop social and life skills Help build a caring school community by linking special education students with general education students in regular school functions. Resource Carter, E.W. & Hughes, C. (2008). Peer buddy programs for successful secondary school inclusion. Baltimore, MD. Paul H Brookes Publishing Co., Inc.

Week 5: EDLD 5326 Action Research Plan Update

AR Project Summary (at least 250 words): Currently this action research plan has given me the opportunity to act in the role of administrator and implement change initiatives. My site supervisor, Mr. Hurst, is very open to all of my action research steps and is giving me full support in my efforts. Also, he is providing input to help guide me in the action research plan process….. “Increasing Disabilities Awareness”. He really believes the program is valuable for all students. He stated, “I’m a firm believer that all students regardless of “abilities” or “disabilities” make up the student body of Woodcreek Middle School”. The peer buddy program is building self-esteem. The name of the peer buddy program is C.A.R.E. (Creating An Atmosphere of Respect and Equality) Buddies. We meet on Thursdays at 9:30- 10:15. Currently, we (CARE Buddies) have attended five out of school extra-curricular activities, known as Social Nights. The parents of my students with special needs are extremely excited about the opportunities and their child being included in school activities. I am certain that my initiative are making a difference in creating a school that promotes a community of belonging, acceptance, caring, and understanding for all. All students with disabilities and without disabilities are benefiting from this initiative. Peer buddy support programs will: • Increase disability awareness • Build Self Esteem • Educate students about Disabilities • Promote People First Language i.e., A student with an Intellectual Disability instead of A Mentally Retarded student. • Develop career interests through service-learning experiences with both general and special education students, • Create and develop social and life skills • Help build a caring school community by linking special education students with general education students in regular school functions • Providing an opportunity for friendships to be developed students and general education students between special education

Week Four Reflections

From the Harris (2010) text the four strategies for sustaining improvement: force field analysis, Delphi method, Nominal Group Technique, and the CARE model were very useful and informative. The Force Field Analysis was very enlightening. Force Field Analysis is a tool developed by social scientist Kurt Lewin. He believed that there are forces that drive change and forces that resist it. In order for change to occur, the driving forces must exceed those resisting it. So to bring about change you will first need to examine and understand the circumstances surrounded the needed change. The steps for conducting a Force Field Analysis include 1) describe the current situation, 2) describe the proposed change, 3) identify what will happen if no change occurs, 4) identify the forces driving the proposed change, 5) identify the forces resisting the change, 6) determine whether the change is viable, and 7) what is needed for implementation?

Week Final Five Reflections

This action research course was enlightening overall. The assignments, discussions and readings in each week caught my interest and I gained new information. I learned something new each week that made me look at the administrators on my campus differently. Also, new information has improved my inquiry focus by relating it more to administrative context instead of from a teacher’s point of view. I have to condition my thoughts to campus-wide improvement and not just classroom improvement. Week One: My greatest insight in week one was learning what is administrative inquiry.Administrative inquiry or action research is described by Nancy Dana as “the process of a principal engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry” (2009). This reflective process is long term and research is done by the principal to seek out change for school improvements by collecting data, analyzing the data with relevant literature, and make changes based on new findings during the research to share with the community stakeholders. The process is cyclical and the source of the pondering is the principal rather than outside experts. It is an essential component in order to establish a firm foundation for school improvement (Harris, 2010). In addition, I learned how and what does action research look like in educational settings. Building a Blog Before this course, I have never created a blog or interacted with others through blog. The process was challenging, yet, I am excited about my blog and reading others blogs. Blogging has allowed me to share my action research project, progress and reflections, as well as learn from reading others’ blogs on action research. Week Two: My greatest insights were Week 2 assignments, Action Research Lessons from Scholar Practitioners, Common Action Research Topics in School settings, and Selecting Action Research Topics. I was able to gain valuable information from three scholar practitioners, Dr. Johnny Briseno, Dr. Timothy Chargois and Dr. Kirk Lewis. They scholars shared what action research meant to them, how it is utilized in their districts and the benefits. Also, I enjoyed meeting with my site supervisor, Thyrun Hurst, Building Principal to review and discuss possible action research topics for campus improvements. I want to learn more about action research and strategies to get all community stakeholders on board. I am excited and passionate about my action research topic. My action research topic is Increasing Disability Awareness in the school setting to educate the student body to embrace differences and identify disabilities through peer buddy programs on campus. Also, I will research the attitudes of students without disability in terms of acceptance or beliefs about individuals with disabilities. According to Dr. K. Lewis, when research is practical to your environment, one is more interested, and focused on the outcome when it relevant and meaningful. Week Three: I learned how to develop my action research plan using the use the template found in the Harris et al. text, Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template, p. 85. Also, I wrote my action Research Question/Problem Statement: In what ways can Woodcreek Middle School develop a collaborative caring culture for students with disabilities, students without disabilities, teachers, administrators and parents? Service Learning for “Diversity” Awareness Week Four: From the Harris (2010) text the four strategies for sustaining improvement: force field analysis, Delphi method, Nominal Group Technique, and the CARE model were very useful and informative. The Force Field Analysis was very enlightening. Force Field Analysis is a tool developed by social scientist Kurt Lewin. He believed that there are forces that drive change and forces that resist it. In order for change to occur, the driving forces must exceed those resisting it. So to bring about change you will first need to examine and understand the circumstances surrounded the needed change. The steps for conducting a Force Field Analysis include 1) describe the current situation, 2) describe the proposed change, 3) identify what will happen if no change occurs, 4) identify the forces driving the proposed change, 5) identify the forces resisting the change, 6) determine whether the change is viable, and 7) what is needed for implementation? Week Five:I learned strategies to continually improve my action research utilizing quality indicators for practitioner- research. The quality indicators are:1. Context of Study2. Wondering (s) and Purpose3. Principal Research Design (Data Collection and Data Analysis4. Principal-Researcher Learning5. Implications for Practice Dana, N. (2009). References: Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin and American Association of School Administrators. Harris, S., Edmondson, S. & Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: Eight steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.

Week Three Reflection

Week 3 Assignments were time consuming yet informative. The completion of my draft research action gave me a vision of the steps I have take. I have learned that the action research plan, progress and implementation may take weeks, months, and others to complete. Effective change doesn't happen overnight. Mahatma Gandhi states "we must be the change we wish to see in the world." Also, I discovered that if the research is meaningful to you, then you are eager about the outcome. I am very excited about my draft action plan so far because I believe it will make a difference for students with disabilities and students without disabilities.

Action Research Plan

Week 2 Lessons /Reflections

Action Research will provide an opportunity to act in the role of administrator and implement change initiatives. Kettering (1961) "essentially research is nothing but a state of mind,... a friendly, welcoming attitude toward change,... going out to look for change instead of waiting for it to come".

My Proposed Research Project Week 2 Lessons

My propose research topic is Increasing Disability Awareness in the school setting to educate the student body to embrace differences and identify disabilities through peer buddy programs on campus. Also, I will research the attitudes of students without disability in terms of acceptance or beliefs about individuals with disabilities. 

The purpose of my proposed research topic is to create a school that promotes a community of belonging, acceptance, caring, and understanding for all. All students with disabilities and without disabilities will benefit from this initiative. Peer buddy support programs will:

• Increase disability awareness
• Build Self Esteem
• Educate students about Disabilities
• Promote People First Language i.e., A student with an Intellectual Disability instead of A Mentally Retarded student.
• Develop career interests through service-learning experiences with both general and special education students,
• Create and develop social and life skills
• Help build a caring school community by linking special education students with general education students in regular school functions
• Providing an opportunity for friendships to be developed students and general education students between special education

Educational Leaders and the Use of Blogs

Educational Leaders can utilize blogging as a way to communicate with staff, students and the community. This enables them to share information,  announcements and general success stories with ease. Also, blogs enables educational leaders to link to other blogs and post comments in an interactive format. I view blogging as a valuable communication resource for keeping in touch with all stakeholders.

Action Research

Action research is a reflective process that enables the participant(s) to identify problems/issues in the organization and to work collaboratively with the appropriate staff in order search for solutions and ideas to improve the organization. The appropriate staff could involve a few members of the organization to the entire team. The participants are empowered to share ideas, thoughts and solutions to an issue, and as a result feel more ownership in the process and final outcome.

As an inspiring educational leader, this process will allow me to identify problems in schools or district and search for solutions with the appropriate stakeholders. Involving appropriate stakeholders in decision making processes give the individuals a sense of empowerment and feel they have a voice in making positive change in the community.  Also, action research will allow me to gain deeper insight into leadership roles in schools and district level to improve student learning and school improvement. Action research will be a very helpful professional development tool in my journey to leadership in effort to make a positive change in public education school systems.  

  Currently as a special education teacher, this process will help me make research based decisions in my classroom and gain a better understanding of myself. According to Oberg (1990) teachers researchers gain a better understanding of why they behave as they do and consequently make better choices in their classroom practice.