This is a wonderful way to create a culture of inquiry and reflection in terms of improved student learning. A growing number of staff are experiencing collegial research as an integral part of evaluating student and program initiatives and school improvement efforts. P.B.A. plans are used to generate action research projects. Project findings are used to guide decision making about schools, classrooms, and students.
Participants see the benefits of collegial planning, study, and reflection.
Our experiences related to action research are shared locally, at the state level, and nationally through conferences and publications. We have our action research abstracts available through the Internet, which should encourage further dialog with other schools and individuals. Local focus areas, identified with strategic input from district teachers and principals, include reading comprehension, writing development, and math process skills. All teachers will receive training in differentiated instruction to appropriately challenge all learners and in the utilization of district owned software for levels testing from Northwest Evaluation Association, Skills Connection standards-based assessments, and Curriculum Designer. The reading comprehension initiative includes six implementation strategies to improve instructional delivery and increase student achievement.