Remembering Sandy Hooks Elementary

Remembering Sandy Hooks Elementary
Remembering Sandy Hooks Elementary - 12-14-12

Friday, December 7, 2012

Third Week - Action Plan Template (revised)



Action Plan Research
Goal: Increase 5th grade English language learners (ELLs) achievement in science vocabulary.

Action Steps(s):
Person(s) Responsible:
Timeline: Start/End
Needed Resources
Evaluation


1
Decide on Action Research topic
Josephine Valenzuela
November 2012
Principal’s input, previous assessments, AEIS reports, etc.
Determine the needs of the school and its effect on previous student performance on STAAR, benchmarks, etc.


2
Identify ELLs in 5th grade.



Josephine Valenzuela
Principal and Assistant Principal
December 2012/January 2013
Data identifying students as ELLs in 5th grade.
Utilize TELPAS Rating Sheets and Scores


3
Evaluate and create a spreadsheet of scores by grade level.

Josephine Valenzuela
5th grade Science teacher
January 2013
TELPAS Scores
Disaggregate data to determine present levels of each student.


4
Prepare/develop
curriculum, including planned assessments on a weekly basis

Josephine Valenzuela, Principal, Assistant Principal, 5th grade Science teachers
January 2013
Use a variety of resources to plan curriculum
Weekly assessments will determine growth


5
 Prepare permission letter to parents for after school activity.

Josephine Valenzuela, Principal, Assistant Principal
January 2013
Approval from principal for sending permission letter to parents
N/A



6
Conduct after school tutoring to 5th grade students specifically in science vocabulary

Josephine Valenzuela
January 2013-April 2013
Begin tutoring, reflect and assess
Conduct assessments on a weekly basis and chart/graph growth



7
Continually monitor progress through weekly assessments and science classroom assessments
Josephine Valenzuela and 5th grade Science teacher
January 2013-April 2013
Weekly assessment, science assessments
Plot or graph growth with students, teachers, and parents


8
Review and evaluate EOY District Benchmarks and STAAR Science results

Josephine Valenzuela, Principal, Assistant Principal, Science Teachers
May-June 2013
EOY benchmark  and STAAR results
Summarize findings of EOY and STAAR results
9
Survey
Josephine Valenzuela
June 2013
Survey
Survey results


Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools (Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

12 comments:

  1. I sense that you have a great deal of expertise in your research topic field, so that alone is a great start (credibility is crucial). Collaborating with other teachers will give you the "buy-in" factor that is critical to success of the project. One suggestion is to spell out the full name for ELL (that's English Language Learners, right - the new name for what used to be called ESL?) on first reference. I enjoy your contributions to our FB group and at the chats, so I look forward to hearing more about your plan as you put it into motion!

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  2. I taught 5th grade and really enjoyed it. When planning your curriculum for those ELL students, any type of graphic organizer (especially Inspiration) really benefit those students. We all know they benefit from visual instruction. Can't wait to see how your Research Plan plays out. :)

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  3. This seems like a great project idea. Depending on the success of this project, it may be possible for it to be extended into other content areas as well, not just science. Science is one are where understanding vocabulary is vital to success, so kudos to you for choosing a research topic that will provide help in an area that is so important.

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  4. @Rebecca: Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to look at my ARP closely and take notice of the acronym "ELL". I've updated it.
    @Cindy: Absolutely, graphic organizers are key for visualization. Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated.
    @Jared: Yes, if this works out, it just might be the basis for other content areas. Science is a language of its own. Thanks for your input.

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  5. Josephine, this is one of the implementation procedures that we use in our district. This research-based process developed by Marzano (2004) is a tool that teachers can use to develop student academic vocabulary.
    Marzano's 6 Step Vocabulary Process is the foundation used to build academic mastery.
    The steps are:
    1. Teacher provides a description
    2. Students restate the explanations in their own words.
    3. Students create nonlinguistic representations of the term.
    4. Students periodically do activities that help them add to their knowledge of vocabulary terms.
    5. Students are asked to discuss the terms with each other.
    6. Students are involved in games that allow them to play with the terms.
    Something to have in mind when developing your curriculum.

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    Replies
    1. Roberto: Thank you so much for that information. I have read Marzano but I like the way you just put it here so I can copy and paste onto a sheet-cheat card! Thank you again for your information. I truly appreciate it. jv

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  6. Josephine,

    Your format is very detailed, organized and well written. I could not get mine to fit on the page correctly with the margins. I tried everything! Yours looks very professional! Awesome job and great action research topic! I wish you luck!

    Karena Prew

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  7. I am so excited to follow your action research! It is such an important topic and my campus will also benefit from your findings. My focus is on fifth grade reading tutoring, but we also try to implement some science vocabulary into every subject. Your plan looks great.

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  8. Love that you are focusing on the vocabulary, I know that is a major struggle for ELLs. Something to maybe look into is the note taking/vocabulary lessons that Quantum Learning uses. Color helps student to remember as well as using "Theta Scans" where the absolute last thing a student does before sleep is read the vocabulary twice or for a 10 minute period. Then turns out the lights and sleeps. No TV, No shower or brushing teeth. When I offered this to my students for their science vocabulary, the grades for vocabulary checkpoint quizzes rose dramatically for the students to used this method. Just a suggestion, Good luck1

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    Replies
    1. Nick: THANK YOU so very much for your well-thought-out comments. I will look into Quantum Learning and I am going to use this strategy on all my students! Maybe they could brush their teeth before jumping into bed to study the vocab words! :) I am truly excited about this action research project.

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  9. I am doing a similar project. They are implementing dual language at my school in the Rio Grande Valley with pre-k and k. I will be following them. I allotted myself time in the summer for evaluation of those end of year assessments. I don't know if that happens in Austin, but we get our EOY reports late sometimes or we're still trying to ARD the 5th graders.
    Another suggestion, your ARD committee may be of assistance to you. I know as a bilingual teacher I am part of this committee. It helps with seeing and understanding all the laws that go along with bilingual education. Boy, is it a lot!!!

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    Replies
    1. Valerie: I appreciate your valuable comments. Yes, our school does have and use dual language one way (Gomez and Gomez model). We just finished our MOY assessments and have the results. AISD has implemented dual language up to the 2nd grade, I believe next year it will be in 3rd grade. I worked in Dallas ISD for the last 5 years and the G&G model of dual language was also used there. If implemented and used properly, it works! I taught 3rd grade for three years and then was able to teach those same 3rd graders in fifth grade. I am currently attending ARDs not only for our 5th grade students but also for the Lifeskills students.

      I am also a bilingual teacher and have 3 fifth grade classes. There are three 5th grade teachers with approximately 30 students. Yes, the laws for SPED and Bilingual Education are overwhelming at times, but if these laws were not in place, many students would be falling through the cracks...as it is many already do. Let me know if I can be of help in your action research project. jv

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