| Action Steps | Person(s) Responsible | Timeline: Start/End | Needed Resources | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compile a list of homebound teachers, counselors, and administrators who are in direct contact with the teen moms on my campus | Christie Mewis | May-June | Site supervisor, Klein Oak website | personal notes |
| Meet with the above staff to discuss action research plan and expectations; get a list of students who will the subjects of research | Christie Mewis Chris Ruggerio | May-June | Action plan, District curriculum plan for homebound students | Personal notes, assess the curriculum, assess the lesson plans |
| Meet with the attendance staff to get records of attendance for the above students | Christie Mewis Diane Hogan Jennifer Carpe | May-June | School data base | Assess the school's attendance records |
| Review dropout rates of teen moms and any past data regarding teen moms who have/have not graduated from Klein Oak | Christie Mewis | June-July | School Database | Review findings Determine any patterns |
| Observe various home bound sessions | Christie Mewis | June-July | Teacher lesson plans PDAS type evaluation form | Review PDAS evaluation and lesson plans Determine lesson sequence |
| Interview teen moms independently | Christie Mewis | July-August | Personalized Survey | Compare results between surveys Look for patterns |
| Interview current and past teachers of teen moms | Christie Mewis, Katie Hopkins | May-August | Counselors Past/present student schedules Past/present grades Discipline records Attendance records | Review findings Determine patterns |
Thursday, April 26, 2012
GOAL: To discover what is necessary to help teen moms graduate successfully.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Teen Pregnancy- In our society, teen pregnancy is everywhere. Shows like "Teen Mom" on MTV can promote teen pregnancy and sometimes give these young parents a false reality of the actual hardships. As adults, it is our job to continue to educate our youth to the importance of "being a kid" and not raising one. We must explain the financial obligations, time restraints, and all the other stresses that accompany starting a family. As educators, it is important that we look at teen pregnancy from a different angle. Of course we still need to encourage these young ladies and gentlemen to postpone starting a family, but we must turn our focus, in this generation, into helping teen moms achieve educational success at its highest level. I have decided to do my action research project on the success of teen moms in education after returning from pregnancy leave. My purpose of this project is to research the available resources in education geared towards the continued success of teen moms. I am hoping this research will benefit these young ladies and encourage them to complete their education. When I made the decision to become an educator, I made the commitment to promote success for all students. It is my goal, through this action research project, to provide an opportunity for teen moms to be able to succeed in education.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Educational leaders sometimes earn a bad reputation just based on their position alone. Some think they are mean, while others feel they are never available. An educational leader has their plate full from the moment they wake up until they lay their head on their pillow. So many people strive for their attention that it begins to feel as if they won't please anyone. With technology on the rise and social media at its highest point, a blog from an educational leader would help ease the tension felt between them and their staff. An educational leader could share ideas, post minutes of meetings, discuss important matters, and even share a thank you note to his or her staff with the use of a blog. This could also help the staff and administration be able to communicate more efficiently. Communication goes a long way in all aspects of life. If an educational leader was able to reach their staff through a blog then they might even read the blog before he or she checks his or her facebook.
It is often said that "if you talk the talk, then you better walk the walk". How many people do you know that set goals, write them down on paper, and inspire to better themselves personally or professionally, only to let those dreams sit in a file and collect dust? These are the people I am referring to in my opening statement and these are the people that action research is trying to change. It is very easy for educators to fall in this category more often than necessary. With action research, teachers are now being encouraged to actually "walk the walk". Stakeholders in education are now challenged to identify problems and strategically solve them. So many different people at all different levels can use action research to better a campus or even a district. District personnel can now answer that question of, "why does it work on one campus and not the other?" Principals can use action research to test theories such as student attendance affecting student achievement. Teachers can identify problems more specifically and help improve overall student success. Parents can also be encouraged to use action research at home to help instill guidelines that improve relationships between themselves and their children. The purpose of action research is clear: promote success for all our children. Through collaboration and "team work", education will no longer just be talking, it will be walking.
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