Week
3 Assignment, Part 3
Draft
Action Research Project Progress Report
Jennifer
Helgen
EDLD
5397
How will incorporating the classroom
management program, Conscious Discipline, impact discipline issues in first
grade?
Needs Assessment
This past summer I sat down with the principal and we had a
discussion on some of the areas the district wanted to focus on for the
upcoming school year. The top two areas
were fluency in reading and discipline.
This is where my idea of incorporating a new classroom management
program in first grade came about. The
need for a change in the number of referrals was very high and by engaging in a
new program we were hoping to rectify the high numbers. So far the data shows we have done just that
and I am very much looking forward to the end of the year where we will sit
down and view all the data and reflections and see if this is a program that
will prove beneficial in all the elementary grades on our campus.
Objectives and Vision
of the Action Research Project
Allowing our children every opportunity to learn and grow is
my goal and vision. I believe by using this program we will be able to do just
that by teaching them life skills, ways to cope and deal with stress, and
teaching them they are in a safe place.
Conscious Discipline stresses how important it is to teach the children
that they are safe, that they can control their stress and frustrations, and
that they can handle anything. It is up
to us to give them the tools to do so.
Review of the
Literature and Action Research Strategy
Baily, B.A. (2000). Conscious
discipline 7 basic skills for brain smart classroom management. Oviedo, FL:
Loving Guidance.
Marzano, R.J. (2007). What will I do to establish or
maintain classroom rules and procedures?. In J. Houtz (Ed.), The art and science of teaching (pp.117-130).
Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Henley, M. (1997). Teaching self-control A curriculum for responsible behavior. Bloomington,
IN: National Educational Service.
Rothstein-Fisch, C., & Trumbull, E. (2008). A new way of
thinking about classroom management. In J. Houtz (Ed.), Managing diverse classrooms How to build on students’ cultural
strengths (pp. 1-20). Alexandria., VA: Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development.
This past summer I met with my principal we discussed various
topics. With the input she gave me we
decided it would be best for me to focus on the issue of discipline. We looked at the discipline referrals data
from this past year, specifically from first grade. At the end of this school year we will be able
to compare the data from last year to this year among first grade.
In the end we will see how this program has affected the
discipline issues we have had in first grade.
If incorporating this new program would prove to be beneficial, then
administration could have the staff trained so Conscious Discipline could be
implemented school wide the following year.
Solving issues with discipline will allow students to reach their full
potential of learning in the classroom.
Articulate the Vision
I can look at my action research
plan and know that I have clearly stated that through the use of Conscious
Discipline in the classroom, my intention is to improve discipline problems in
1st Grade. The steps I have
set out show that I plan to keep a very close eye on the data and make
reflections constantly. Through reflections I can determine whether changes or
revisions need to be made. The line of
communication and collaboration with my co-workers and principal is open and
constant. Through team meetings I am
able to consistently share and explain the vision as well as receive input and
have open discussions that lead to better understanding and reflection. Necessary changes can be made or extended
learning can be done if required.
Manage the Organization
Managing time, materials and people is something, as a
teacher, that I have had a lot of experience in. In this particular project referring to my action
research plan helps me to ensure I am on schedule and completing the tasks I
have set for myself and the people that I am collaborating with on this
project. The times that we have a chance
to really have discussions and reflect is during our team meetings. The responsibilities are mainly mine, but as
I pointed out, much collaboaration is done.
I am responsible for sharing the message of what needs to be
accomplished and I also open the floor for discussions and reflections on what
is being done and what we need to do to keep moving forward and in the right
direction. The whole purpose of my
action plan is to lower the discipline issues in first grade which will allow
for optimal learning and allow the students to feel safe and ready to take on
any challenge set in front of them.
Manage Operations
I used the data from Skyward to
see where first grade referrals stand and thoughout the year I check to see if
we have made progress in lowering the amount of discipline issues. The needs assessment clearly showed that the
school would benefit from exploring a new classroom management program to help
us in our discipline issues. Through the
communication with my principal, vice principal, and co-workers we decided that
the use of Conscious Discipline in the classrooms could lead to great success
in reducing our referrals and we hope this proves to be true when we sit down
to compare data at the end of the year.
Respond to Community Interest and Needs
If this program is successful we can then look into incorporating
it across the grades next year. The
campus culture would be greatly affected and improved if this program proves to
be beneficial. Discipline issues can cause
difficulties for students and can hinder their learning. We want the very best
for our children and by providing them with the appropriate knowledge and
skills they will be able to move forward and accomplish the goals that we set,
and more importantly the goals they set for themselves.
