Student Motivation Action Planning Template

Action Planning Template
Goal: Improve Grades and State Mandated Student Assessment Scores for Students in the 2nd and 3rd Quartile by Increasing Student Motivation.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Form a committee of teachers to determine needs and target students	Committee Members Present: Various faculty member from almost every discipline including myself (two members were not present)	Start Date: October 18, 2012	School grade point average	Compare 9th and 10th grade data from 2011-2012 school year
Committee meets to identify potential student incentives that will motivate students to succeed		End Date: Summer 2013, Reevaluate data to make changes before 2013-2014 school year for NCLB	disaggregate data from benchmark testing, the first six weeks of school, and the 2011-2012 EOC exam	Examine student EOC scores from 2011-2012 with scores from December 2012 data for students retesting and data for current 9th and 10th grade students testing for the first time spring 2013 EOC
Two committee members meet with the principal to begin implementation of idea	One other faculty member, the principal, and I will meet to decide and begin implementation.		volunteer students to form SEIC	Gain insight from students themselves on a committee representing the target groups of students (2nd and 3rd quartile)
Teachers will meet on a weekly basis to determine which students are deserving of the “students of the month”	The school is divided in to halls: A, B, and C. Teachers will meet weekly and offer suggestions to the hall that will be awarding “students of the month.” The halls will rotate, so no one group of teachers influences the students awarded.	November 1, 2012. Eight students (a boy and a girl from each grade) will be awarded every month throughout the school year.	The community is donating items. Additional supplies will be purchased as needed and as determined by monthly meetings.	Incentive program will be evaluated every six weeks.
Classroom teachers will give awards every reporting period.	Every classroom teacher.	Awards will start at the beginning of the third six weeks reporting period.	Items to be determined, but they will be uniform so no one teacher has an advantage or disadvantage over another teacher.	Program will be evaluated after every six weeks to determine if there is an increase in grades and motivation.
Perfect attendance tickets will be awarded every six weeks. Annual perfect attendance will receive additional tickets.	Attendance clerk, principal, and I will run reports to determine which students will receive tickets.	Program will be effective retroactively beginning with August 27, 2012 ending at the end of the school year.	A drawing will be held from the tickets earned and an IPad will be awarded to the students whose name is drawn.	Attendance will be compared to that of last year to determine if any gains were made.
Lay the ground work for SEIC (Student Education Improvement Committee) and present goals and objectives to the principal.	I will be solely responsible for this with guidance from the principal.	Fall 2012 (before winter break at the end of December) through the current school year ending in May 2013	Volunteer students, facility to meet, basic supplies, precautions will be implemented to keep data specific to student achievement and success confidential	To be Determined after meeting with students.

Revision to my Action Research Project

After working on my week three assignment, I think I have finally narrowed my topic to a workable idea focusing on student motivation and leaving teacher retention behind (or more like it, future projects). 

 My new action research focus is, "What actions can our faculty, administration, school, parents, and community take to increase student motivation to succeed and improve our state EOC achievement of our lowest quartile students?" 

With today’s current trend of student apathy, it is more important than ever to discover the motivating factor for students to ensure successful completion on state standardized tests and graduation. What qualities does the top quartile possess to attain top ranking? How do we motivate students in the 2^nd and 3^rd quartile (bubble kids) to want to raise their own expectations and self-motivate. I will be focusing primarily with the faculty and high school administration can do to increase student motivation and performance.

While this topic has been discussed many times in previous campus improvement meetings, this is the first time a committee has been formed to implement the ideas formerly brainstormed. I will be focusing primarily on what the high school faculty and high school administration can do to increase student motivation and performance in class and on state mandated standardized tests.

 On a more personal level, I am going to assemble a student committee of the very kids we are trying to reach, and they will brainstorm and become problem solvers themselves for their peers. I have noticed when these kids have a vested interest in a project, they become more accountable.

Action Research, Questions and Time

It is just like I tell my students when they begin a research project. Come up with an idea then narrow it. I think I am guilty of exactly what my students are…biting off more up more than I can chew and needing to narrow my topic (along with a few clichés). A topic sounds like a good idea until you realize, “Oh No, this is way bigger than I thought.”

Another idea I have been thinking lately is it seems (and action research encourages this) that there seems to be a lot of questions raised and ideas tossed around. I am hoping throughout this action research study that questions start to get real answers and ways to actually implement solutions when committees are formed.

It would seem everyone has an answer, but when it comes to actual implementation, few seem to step up to implement solutions because it requires time outside their actual school day. I am not saying they are bad teachers, it is just with low pay and a high demand on time, many teachers do not have the time outside the scope of their work day to commit to yet another project.

How do we motivate teachers to give up what little free time they do have?

An analysis of how educational leaders might use blogs.

Blogs are a way for educational leaders to be better connected and aware of important topics in their field and their school. Although I have used blogs in my past (reading and responding to personal issues or parenting and hobbies), I never considered it as a good way to meet with principals and teachers. We are all so busy with job, family, and friends, too often, there is nothing left over for professional development and communication. Blogging will allow for an exchange of ideas that distance and time would otherwise prevent. 

It is also a way to share those “ah ha” moments and other exciting revelations with colleagues, peers, friends, family, and pretty much anyone who is interested in the topic. It enables the user to “think big” (Dana, 150) and help play with, develop, and challenge ideas.