Progress

Action Research Project Title:  Warm-ups to improve math problem solving skills and math readiness

Blog URL: http://www.kristeneckerman.blogspot.com

Number of AR Project Documented Hours:  3 hours

AR Project Summary (at least 250 words):

By the second week of school I was able to get a student and teacher survery completed.  These surveys helped to determine whether students were ready for math problem solving each and every day and determine where they stand on math and how they view it.  I was then able to pick a handful of students that I wanted to use for my plan.  These students failed the STAAR math test in 3^rd grade and from their survey, did not enjoy math and had very negative reviews toward it. 

Then for the next two weeks I gave students a math warmup in their journals 3 days out of the week for 3 weeks now.  They had 15 minutes to complete the warm-up and then we went over them together.  These problems consist of different math skills that take problem solving strategies.  Lots of times 2 to 3 steps are needed in order to solve the problem.  These are not looking great right now.  There is very minimal work done and students often get stuck on the question and not knowing what to do next.  When I total up the time we have spent working on this action research it has only been about 45 minutes a week for 3 weeks, so approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours.  Students however are also getting their regulary daily math lessons that also involve problem solving much of the time.  It hasn’t been long enough to truly see an increase in problem solving with these students.   We did have our first CBA over place value problem solving, but this was a little too soon to really see if these students are being successful and improving in problem solving. By our first benchmark in December I am hoping to see dramatic changes, for the better.  I will also take another survery in December to see if students’ views on math have changed any.  My hopes are that by seeing and solving problem often, students will not only get better at them, but will start having confidence in their abilitles and this in turn will change their opinions of math.  Hopefully, starting to enjoy the subject and maybe even look forward to it a bit.  

course thoughts

There is so much to still be learned about the leadership role and specifically action research.  Until I took this course I didn’t really know what action research was about.  Now, I fill confident in implementing my inquiry and excited to see what comes of it.  It is my hope that I discover how beneficial warm-ups can be and that I am able to share my findings with other educators in hopes of helping them in that area as well.  My school is a very close team and we are pretty much like family.  I look forward to applying new strategies and concepts I have learned from this course that will benefit my team, my self, and the entire school staff.  Action research will be a common practice as a principal or leader that I will pursue and encourage others to pursue as well.  

Action Research plan

Action Planning Template
Goal:
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Look at STAAR math Scores to see how Students did on Problem solving TEKS	Eckerman (myself)	May 2013	STAAR math Results	Determine specific TEKS and areas in problem solving that my student sample did poorly on.
Prepare math Journals “Problem Solvers” for my sample	Eckerman (myself)	August 2013	Journal Notebooks	These are where my sample will work their warm-ups each morning.
Collect problem-solving math warm-ups to use	Eckerman (myself)	August 2013	Math Essentials Envision Lonestar Rigorous Problem Solving	I will use these resources to pull my warm-ups from to use in their journals daily.
Set the foundation for  my class - expectations and purpose	Eckerman (myself)	August 2013	Myself- peptalks	I want to set the foundation for the study to my students.  I want them to be motivated and excited to partake in this research.  I  will set the  purpose and procedures so that students know what is expected of them during this time.
Daily Warm-ups in Action	Eckerman (myself)	August 2013-March 2014	Journals Math Essentails Envision Lonestar Rigorous Problem Solving	I will begin our 7 month project of daily math warm-ups and reflect on the progress and results.  I will look at journal problems weekly to assess how students are doing and any changes that may need to be made.
Collecting Data	Eckerman (myself)	August 2013- March 2014	Journal Samples CBA and Benchmark scores Student interviews and surveys STAAR Math results 2013-2014	I will collect the following forms of data and reflect on them as my project continues.  I will use the data to analyze if the warm-ups have been successful and in which ways. The student Surveys will be Conducted to Report if student Readiness for Math has improved.
Comparing data	Eckerman (myself)	May 2014	STAAR results  From 2013- 2014	I will look at The new STAAR math Results after The study to see If there is any Difference in Student Performance
Reflection	Eckerman (myself)	August 2013-May 2014	Data collected	I will reflect on my findings and what I found to be successful and worth continuing and what I found to not work or ideas that need to be adjusted and changed.

Action Research Project

Process Overview

1.    SETTING THE FOUNDATION- Through collaboration during staff meetings with teachers on my campus, the issue of student performance in math in regards to problem solving has been identified as an issue.

2.    ANALYZING DATA- I will use a variety of data gathering, including student surveys and interviews, previous and current Math STAAR results, student math cba’s and benchmarks, and daily journals. 

3.    DEVELOPING DEEPER UNDERSTANDING- Initial data gathering will lead to additional questions that will cause me to dig deeper into analyzing if my daily math warm ups are showing improvements.  Interviews of students will lead to further questions of whether students are developing a readiness to learn new math concepts through their daily warm-ups.

4.    ENGAGE IN SELF-REFLECTION- I will ask my self some reflective questions including:

-Will I be able to implement consistency with my daily warm-ups, making sure to use them every morning in order to collect adequate data.

-Are my students’ attitudes toward math, specifically problem solving, positive or negative.

-Is this warm-up time helping to utilize every minute of the day (no down time).

5.    EXPLORING PROGAMMATICAL PATTERNS- After talking with my site supervisor and listening to the opinion of other math teachers, I will begin to formulate a more definite solution.

6.    DETERMING DIRECTION- I am clear on what I am attempting to solve during my action research project.  I will collaborate with my 4^th grade team members to assist me in approaching this issue.  My time line is very realistic, it will take approximately 7 plus months.  My plan to monitor direction has been established.  As the project gets on its way I will revise and improve the plan as needed.  If warm-up problems are too difficult easy we will adjust.  If students are showing improvement in problem solving by their first benchmark we will also have to make adjustments. 

7.    TAKING ACTION FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT- I will develop a written plan of my action and have used the Tool 7.1 template to assist me. 

8.    SUSTAIN IMPROVEMENT- If my results show success and benefits for my students I will share my findings with those that will also benefit from knowing the results.  I will also apply this process to other areas of my personal professional development.