Study Hall in the Morning Research Inquiry

 

SIP or PIP (SCHOOL or PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT) PLAN OF ACTION

 

 

 

 

SCHOOL VISION: "We envision schools where students and staff are enthusiastically engaged in learning within local and virtual environments. We see schools that encourage collaboration and cultivate a sense of belonging. We see learning standards that are rigorous and relevant. We see learning standards that inspire creativity and problem solving. Ultimately, we see schools that prepare students for many paths and that empower them with skills to successfully live in a rapidly changing world."

 

GOAL: The goal of this action research program is to increase the reading fluency and comprehension, writing skills, and test taking skills of students at Ross Sterling middle school. There will also be an emphasis on community and service and how they can impact the community in small ways. The research is aimed at being a pilot for a school wide program starting in the 2013-2014 school year.

 

 

 

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments
Increase time spent studying outside of class.	Students receive tips and training on best practice study habits and strategies. Students will demonstrate these tips and strategies throughout the program.	Survey of student habits and portfolio.	Six teachers and the building principal.	August 2012-March 2013	Students will be required to show proof of completion of strategies and keep a study log in their portfolio. Interview parents about student's study behaviors. Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.	Interview parents about student's study behaviors. Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.
Increase reading levels and stamina.	Students use reading strategies to increase reading levels and build stamina by reading primary source academic material.	Readings and fluency/comprehension assessments.	Six teachers and the building principal.	August 2012-March 2013	Students will be given a pre/post reading fluency comprehension test. Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.	Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.
Increase student writing levels.	Students will write in a multiple formats to increase writing skills. Students will be required to keep a portfolio for their writing samples and journal entries.	Student portfolio and writing assessments.	Six teachers and the building principal.	August 2012-March 2013	Writings by students will be assessed on a regular basis and log for improvement. The students will keep all writing samples in their portfolio and monitor their own progress. At the end of the program students will have an exit meeting where they will discuss their writing strengths and weaknesses. This data should be kept up with by the student through weekly reflections. Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.	Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.
Increase use of test taking strategies.	Students will answer practice questions using testing strategies.	Practice questions and test taking strategies.	Six teachers and the building principal.	August 2012-March 2013	Students will be assessed each time we have a test strategies day to measure use of testing strategies. Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.	Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.
Increase student word knowledge and retention of vocabulary words.	Students will build their lexicon by learning four new academic non-content vocabulary words per week through different strategies. Students also will be required to learn a new word part each week.	Vocabulary words, word parts, and vocabulary assessments.	Six teachers and the building principal.	August 2012-March 2013	Student will be quizzed every three weeks for retention of vocabulary. Each quiz will include words from previous weeks as well. Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.	Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.
Decrease tardiness of students to all class.	Students will discuss with each other what it means to be principled and the reasons why it is important to be principled. They will draft a "Principles Contract" for each individual program class.	Attendance audits.	Six teachers and the building principal. Attendance specialist.	August 2012-March 2013	I will collect tardiness data every three weeks and discuss will other program teachers. This data will be used to remind students of the importance of being focused on getting to class and being prepared. Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.	Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.
Increase student awareness of community and service.	Students will participate in a school wide initiative to recycle and read about the importance of serving your community. Students will also read about different ways they can help out. They will each be required to write out a plan to benefit the community.	Recycling program.	Six teachers and the building principal.	August 2012-March 2013	Student work will be assessed on how well they develop a plan of action. Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.	Teacher reflections on student performance in the program and recommendations for improvement.