Action Research Project update summary September 29, 2012

When plans were made with my principal this summer for the Action Research project we had several ideas to throw around. We finally decided that working on our campus RTI process would be most beneficial. I asked about beginning the year with a survey to see what improvements teachers would like to see, and I had a few ideas of my own. Then, a few weeks before our first teacher work day we had an Instructional Coordinator placed on our campus. One of her main duties was to be chairperson for the RTI process (our counselor had done these meetings previously). She agreed to let me send the survey out to staff and see what responses we got. There was not a huge percentage of returns, but one thing we did notice was the lack of knowledge on how to enter data from the RTI meetings. Our new IC began looking over file folders of papers kept from the RTI meetings and realized we were at least two years behind! She showed me how to enter the data starting back at 2010, and we have been working on all needed forms for each child. It would have been much easier if it was done during, or after, each meeting. We have been sifting through all kinds of paperwork, and some forms ask for uploaded and attached documentation. Those have to be scanned onto a computer, then uploaded. These were not my exact plans for working on the RTI process, but apparently it’s what our campus needs right now!

Web Conference for September 5th, 2012

My reflection on the web conference with Dr. Joe Burns is positive, as all the web conferences have been. They are great at clarifying what paper work is needed, web addresses, assignments, and plans.
I was not connected through a web cam or headset, so as Dr. Burns went through the students that were connected I started taking notes. By the time he finished, I was reassured that some of my worries are also concerns of other students. We cleared up what papers are needed for the TK20 updates, and were told sometimes the titles of the pages change. I had been wondering before that why I had several different papers with similar names. He told us to be sure and keep logs updated, so when we are asked for them we're prepared! I was a little concerned about getting behind, or not getting things done in time (such as our Internship Activity Plan). Having a full class to teach (or three since I am departmentalized) is a lot of work on top of all the activities that need to be completed, documented, and reflected on. He reminded us not to get stressed and keep working at it! I thought it was interesting he said that most of those activities will be outside our "comfort zone" because I remember thinking that these are not things most teachers would do. My principal is kind enough to give me tasks that allow me to work on my Internship. This web conference was reassuring, and a great reminder to keep going hard!