Putting Research into Motion

I will begin an afterschool CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Children's Health) Club in two weeks. I will be working with students that have BMI (Body Mass Index levels) that do not fall in the Healthy Fitness Zone. My goal is to engage them in fun, moderate to vigorous activities, learn about nutrition and have fun in the process. We will also be working together to reduce our BMI levels to reach a healthy fitness zone level. This is part of my research to connect health and physical activity to achievement scores. I am looking forward to working with the students.

The action begins and we are off....

As I complete my 5th week assignment for Research, I find myself overwhelmed with all that lies ahead. I am excited and eager to begin the planning, grunt work and implementation that will hopefully bring about positive change for students, my self and the school campus. The plan is in place and I will begin two additional afterschool clubs that will target 3rd-5th grade students that did not fall within the recommended Body Mass Index of their healthy fitness zone on the Fitness Gram and 1st and 2nd grade students that are identified for intervention in reading. The 3rd-5th grade BMI club will focus on C.A.T.C.H. (Coordinated Approach to Children's Health) activities that get children moving and learning about nutrition and making healthy choices. The 1st-2nd grade intervention club will focus on Action Based Learning (Jean Blaydes-Madigan) lessons and objectives that are designed to provide a movement environment for academic and physical development. Throughout the year I will be tracking BMI levels, TPRI progress, running totals and comparing 2008-2010 fitness gram scores to 2008-2010 TAKS scores. Throughout the study I hope to acquire new insight and understanding regarding what impacts student learning and if physical activity plays a significant role in the achievement of students. On your mark, get set, GO!

Pressing Forward

I will be meeting with my site supervisor this week to share the Week 4 assignment with him and to make any revisions he sees necessary. I hope it goes well. He is extremely busy with the beginning of school just around the corner. I know daily physical activity is not a priority with administrators since there is no district policy that implicates its importance as TAKS scores do. I will continue to press forward and fight for what I believe necessary in the development of teaching the whole child. As an elementary student I was an A-B student, but I lived for recess and lunch. I still have the heart of a child and want to make physical activity valued and loved by those I teach. Wish me luck.

A Decision is Made

I have decided to do my action research plan on how daily physical activity impacts student learning. I will be comparing our elementary schools 3rd grade Fitness gram scores against their TAKS scores from 2008-2010. I will also compare our running program totals for 3rd grade to their Fitness Gram scores. I will also compare feeder pattern schools Fitness Gram results to ours. Schools within our feeder pattern are not the same. We do not offer the same programs, receive the same funds, have the same facilities, equipment, nor see our students the same amount in physical education. I love teaching physical education and providing as many opportunities for activity as possible. We have two recess carts filled with equipment so students can be as active as they want to be. Students are encouraged to participate in daily recess but due to the strains of TAKS accountability, students are being pulled from recess and physical education class. I want to see how these changes have affected our Fitness Gram scores and how the scores compare to TAKS. If students are struggling physically are they struggling academically as well? I will be sharing articles such as Blaydes, J., Advocacy: A Case for Daily Quality PE, TEPE Journal (2001). and Jump Rope as Perfect Exercise for Brain (http://abllab.com/feature/jump-rope-as-perfect-exercise-for-brain/. I will keep you posted as the journey begins. Busy, busy, busy.

Change of Heart

Well, I am back again after submitting my assignment for week 2 of EDLD 5301 Research. After completing the last assignment where we had to meet with our site supervisor I had to make a decision on my action research topic again. I am sad to report that my site supervisor has suffered a family loss and I was unable to meet with him, so I met with another supervisor that suggested that I stay true to my internship plan and focus on topics that directly affect the subject area I teach. I am an elementary physical education teacher as you know if you read my profile and I am involved with the Fitness Gram testing for all students. I believe fitness has a direct link to student achievement and will be changing my action research topic. My new study will be asking "How does our campus Fitness Gram scores compare to our campuses student achievement scores (TAKS) and its' impact on student achievement? I still want to work on parental involvement and its impact on student achievement and behavior. I feel all issues impact student achievement and this is one dear to my heart. I will keep you posted. Anyone listening?

I feel the readings this week, Chapter 2 -The Passions that Drive Your Journey, Dana, N.F., Leading with Passion and Knowledge have helped me to find my wonderings. I like the fact that I get to revise my topic as I progress through the assignments. I still like my topic on parent involvement and its' impact on student achievement. Ihave revised my action research study to ask, How will increased parental involvement reduce the amount of repeat detention offenders and increase student achievement. As I reread my topic it should really ask, " What are some alternative behavior management plans we could implement in our school, and in what ways are they effective for completing student homework assignments, reducing tardiness, excessive absenteeism and habitual behavioral problems?" I personally like to spend my teaching time on instruction and student participation versus handing out consequences for a student's lack of effort in attempting, completing or returning an assignment. I believe parents that are directly involved in their childs academic success knowingly ask to see their homework and want to know what and how their child is doing in school. Something to think about.

Action Research

What I have learned about Action Research is that I must be engaged in inquiry. I must develop a question or "wondering" that I wish to study. Parents, administrators and teachers need to look at what children are doing, where they are, where do they need to be, and how do we get them there. Inquiry is like exercise. One must do it daily/weekly in order to reap the benefits. Inquiry is an important ingredient for the overall professional health of an educator (Copeland, 2003). p. 15. Action research contains four contexts for administrators to create an environment to work in: University coursework, superintendent/district meetings, Leadership teams and professional learning communities. These provide the arena to review data, discuss relevant student and campus issues, collaborate, plan, monitor, coordinate programs and problem solve. Good action resource questions are clear, concise and doable. I plan to develop a committee to research "How positive and effective parental involvement impacts student learning and behavior." and develop and implement a parent partnership program. I work with many dedicated and passionate teachers who are true educators and would see the impact this program could have on improving student learning and developing a positive campus culture. Through weekly inquiry I will maintain a diary, collect data and reflect on insights that I will gain through this research process.

As an educator I will use the blogs to gain insights into problems that administrators face on a daily basis and ways to problem solve and overcome them.