1) Question Formation: What do I need to learn? Based on the revised version of the "What I Plan To Study", I need to learn more about the orientation process. What is orientation? What are the components of an induction plan? Who should be involved? How does the culture of our shool influence the induction plan? Shared vision between staff members - is this the place to start when creating a new induction plan?
2) Literature Search: What resources have I identified to learn this new material? Up to this point, I have researched the Induction Plans from other school districts in the state of Pennsylvania through the internet. I have also read an artical from Educational Leadership - Improving School Culture, Synthesis of Research on Effective Schools. I found a website called Building A Shared Vision developed by the Bonner Curriculum. I have gone back through my notes from the previous school year when I attended the Induction Plan Training with HRD and reviewed my notes and the comments our previous team had made. I am still researching, reading & learning. I believe that all of this is helping me reflect on the process and develop a strong action research that will truly have an impact, but the more I look through information I am finding, the more overwhelmed I am feeling. ????
3) Question Formation: How has my action research question/focus changed? My action research focus has changed quite a bit (hence the two different "What I Plan to Study" blogs). Reviewing the Induction Rubric, reflecting on school procedures set in place concerning induction this school year and speaking with my administrator my action research has become somewhat more focused. I also believe that the action research has become more focused because of Richard Sagor's book and the probing/reflecting questions asked through Chapter 3. I felt and sometimes still feel that my action research is too broad, so after reading Chapter 3 and reflecting on the problem formation, I think I am more on the path of accomplishing something. What has helped me the most to narrow the field of research and begin to think about data collection has been the answers to these questions: Who is effected? Who or what is suspected of causing the problem? What kind of problem is it? What is the goal for improvement? What do we propse to do about it? Once I answered these questions in my journal, I was able to develop research questions such as: 1) How will meeting as a Leadership Team to create an induction plan influence other members of our school? 2) What components should make up our induction plan? 3) How does creating a shared vision as our leadership team creates the Induction Plan affect the attitudes of teachers?
Please note: This is still in the planning stages and I welcome any and all feedback.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
What I Plan To Study (Revised) - Stacey Brown
Which area of induction do we do well in our school? Accountability & Assessment. I cannot say we can't as a school use improvement in this area, but I do believe it is our strength.
How do I know we do this well? Our instructional coaches, support staff & administrators are continuously collecting data, analyzing data, and careating staff development based on the needs of the students and the teachers. When using the rubric and truly being reflective, I do feel Riverland falls in the Accomplished area of accountability and assessment.
Which area of induction needs improvement? Orientation. Riverland's entire Site-Based Induction Team has changed this past year. I have often asked myself why am I working twice as hard and getting half the result. Well - I have realized that with a new induction team, there is not the "buy in" we once had because the new team does not necessarily have the same vision. To really have an impact and improve the quality of support provided to new staff members in our school, we need to develop an induction plan that does involve all current staff members.
What areas of induction would I like to learn more about? Orientation.
What questions about induction do I currently have?
Is there a list of the components that should go in the Induction Plan? I am not sure, but I don't think that Orientation is simply what we do the week before school starts with our new educators. Is orientation something that should actually occur throughout the school year?
How do I know we do this well? Our instructional coaches, support staff & administrators are continuously collecting data, analyzing data, and careating staff development based on the needs of the students and the teachers. When using the rubric and truly being reflective, I do feel Riverland falls in the Accomplished area of accountability and assessment.
Which area of induction needs improvement? Orientation. Riverland's entire Site-Based Induction Team has changed this past year. I have often asked myself why am I working twice as hard and getting half the result. Well - I have realized that with a new induction team, there is not the "buy in" we once had because the new team does not necessarily have the same vision. To really have an impact and improve the quality of support provided to new staff members in our school, we need to develop an induction plan that does involve all current staff members.
What areas of induction would I like to learn more about? Orientation.
What questions about induction do I currently have?
Is there a list of the components that should go in the Induction Plan? I am not sure, but I don't think that Orientation is simply what we do the week before school starts with our new educators. Is orientation something that should actually occur throughout the school year?
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
What I plan to study - Sandra da Costa
Which areas of induction do we do well in our school?
Presenting information/ Orientation
How do I know that we do this well?
The Instructional Coach feedback and comments
What area of this induction component needs improvement?
More time for the New Educators. There needs to be more time given for the Instructional coaches to be able to work with the new educators - time that is different from their own time to plan for their own classrooms. More time given for Instructional coaches to have opportunities for more contact/talks and to give more guidance to new educators to help ease the overwhelming feelings of having sooo much to do.
Which area of this induction component would I like to hear more about?
How can I meet the needs for the New Educators and how can I make sure that they are getting the time they need; while effectively communicating with the Instructional Coaches.
What question about this induction component do I currently have?
How can both New educators and Instructional Coaches manage their time to plan for their own classrooms AND find the time to effectively plan together for the New Educator’s needs?
Presenting information/ Orientation
How do I know that we do this well?
The Instructional Coach feedback and comments
What area of this induction component needs improvement?
More time for the New Educators. There needs to be more time given for the Instructional coaches to be able to work with the new educators - time that is different from their own time to plan for their own classrooms. More time given for Instructional coaches to have opportunities for more contact/talks and to give more guidance to new educators to help ease the overwhelming feelings of having sooo much to do.
Which area of this induction component would I like to hear more about?
How can I meet the needs for the New Educators and how can I make sure that they are getting the time they need; while effectively communicating with the Instructional Coaches.
What question about this induction component do I currently have?
How can both New educators and Instructional Coaches manage their time to plan for their own classrooms AND find the time to effectively plan together for the New Educator’s needs?
Monday, February 12, 2007
What I plan to study - Debra Freeman
Which areas of induction do we do well in our school? Collaboration and support at the very beginning of the semester.
How do I know that we do this well? visual results due to collaboration and support.
What areas of this induction component needs improvement? To help instructional coaches manage time to continue the momentum of collaboration and support of new educators and at the same time have enough time for themselves to have their work done and be good role models.
Which areas of this induction component would I like to learn more about? How I can provide professional development for both new educators and instructional coaches.
What question about this induction component do I currently have? Time management, how new educators and coaches alike can manage time so that all needs are met and reduce the stress of being overwhelmed.
How do I know that we do this well? visual results due to collaboration and support.
What areas of this induction component needs improvement? To help instructional coaches manage time to continue the momentum of collaboration and support of new educators and at the same time have enough time for themselves to have their work done and be good role models.
Which areas of this induction component would I like to learn more about? How I can provide professional development for both new educators and instructional coaches.
What question about this induction component do I currently have? Time management, how new educators and coaches alike can manage time so that all needs are met and reduce the stress of being overwhelmed.
Liaison Action Research- Mary Beth Strautz
Which areas of Induction do we do well in our school?
Oreintation is is good shape.
How do I know that we do this well?
NE Feedback and administrative comments.
What area(s) of this Induction component needs improvement?
Need more release time for New Educator/ Instructional Coach classroom observations. Administartors need to do formative & summative observation in a timely manner.
Which area(s) of this Induction component would I like to learn more about?
How can we identify the “right” teachers for Instructional Coach assignment? There don't seem to be many that want to get out of their classrooms and collaborate. There are very few that really step up to the plate, but they sure do like to be paid!
What question about this Induction component do I currently have?
How are our current IC's doing? I've been soliciting info from NE's this month but am not sure what to do with the information!
Oreintation is is good shape.
How do I know that we do this well?
NE Feedback and administrative comments.
What area(s) of this Induction component needs improvement?
Need more release time for New Educator/ Instructional Coach classroom observations. Administartors need to do formative & summative observation in a timely manner.
Which area(s) of this Induction component would I like to learn more about?
How can we identify the “right” teachers for Instructional Coach assignment? There don't seem to be many that want to get out of their classrooms and collaborate. There are very few that really step up to the plate, but they sure do like to be paid!
What question about this Induction component do I currently have?
How are our current IC's doing? I've been soliciting info from NE's this month but am not sure what to do with the information!
Friday, February 9, 2007
What I plan to study-Marie Foley
Which areas of Induction do we do well in our school? Support and Collaboration
How do we know we do this well? Feedback from former new educators, feedback from administration, feedback from instructional coaches
What areas of Induction need improvement? Accountability
Which areas of Induction would I like to know more about? How can I help increase effective communication among support groups regarding professional development for new educators and instructional coaches?
Which questions about Induction do I currently have?
What communication media other than face to face meetings can be used to for members of the induction team to be in alignment in meeting the needs of new educators?
Currently the induction team includes the eight instructional coaches who attended last summer's instructional coach professional development. How do I include a broader representation of support groups? Which groups/roles should be represented?
How do we identify the needs of new educators, develop a written plan for meeting these needs and prioritize these steps to most effectively address a schoolwide professional development?
How do we know our plan is working to increase communication among support groups?
What data do we collect to measure if our communication is increasing? How do we collect this data?
How do we know if we need to implement change?
How do we know we do this well? Feedback from former new educators, feedback from administration, feedback from instructional coaches
What areas of Induction need improvement? Accountability
Which areas of Induction would I like to know more about? How can I help increase effective communication among support groups regarding professional development for new educators and instructional coaches?
Which questions about Induction do I currently have?
What communication media other than face to face meetings can be used to for members of the induction team to be in alignment in meeting the needs of new educators?
Currently the induction team includes the eight instructional coaches who attended last summer's instructional coach professional development. How do I include a broader representation of support groups? Which groups/roles should be represented?
How do we identify the needs of new educators, develop a written plan for meeting these needs and prioritize these steps to most effectively address a schoolwide professional development?
How do we know our plan is working to increase communication among support groups?
What data do we collect to measure if our communication is increasing? How do we collect this data?
How do we know if we need to implement change?
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
What I Plan To Study - Stacey Brown
Which areas of Induction do we do well in our school? NESS Orientation
How do I know that we do this well? The feedback from the participants is positive. Each participant is asked to complete an evaluation at the end of the orientation.
Which area of this Induction component needs improvement? As the year has gone on, new educators have been hired. Due to the hectic schedules and or multiple tasks we are all asked to complete and the sense of urgency we all have with the approaching FCAT, I do not feel the newest educators are getting the attention they deserve and need. They have sort of been thrown into the mix and fingers have been crossed they survive.
What area of this Induction would I like to learn more about? How to meet the needs of all new educators throughout the year and to assign the instructional coaches that will work well with them.
How do I know that we do this well? The feedback from the participants is positive. Each participant is asked to complete an evaluation at the end of the orientation.
Which area of this Induction component needs improvement? As the year has gone on, new educators have been hired. Due to the hectic schedules and or multiple tasks we are all asked to complete and the sense of urgency we all have with the approaching FCAT, I do not feel the newest educators are getting the attention they deserve and need. They have sort of been thrown into the mix and fingers have been crossed they survive.
What area of this Induction would I like to learn more about? How to meet the needs of all new educators throughout the year and to assign the instructional coaches that will work well with them.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Participants
NESS School Liaison Action Research Participants
Elluminate Track 1
1. Stacey Brown, Riverland Elem.
2. Debra Freeman, Watkins Elem.
3. Pamela Powers, Deerfield B Middle
4. Carla Verba, Stoneman Douglas
Elluminate Track 2
1. Sandra Dacosta, Martin Luther King Elem.
2. Marie Foley, Horizon Elem.
3. Laferne A. McLean-Cross, Annabel Perry Elem.
4. Mary Strautz, Dillard H S
5. Mary Ellen Hambright, Hallandale Adult
6. Juliet Hibbs, Coconut Creek H S
What I Plan to Study- Randee (example)
Which areas of Induction do we do well in our school? Instructional Coach support
How do I know that we do this well? No one is complaining
What area(s) of this Induction component needs improvement? Need release time for New Educator/ Instructional Coach classroom observations
Which area(s) of this Induction component would I like to learn more about? How can we identify the “right” teachers for Instructional Coach assignment
What question about this Induction component do I currently have? Is it important to find the “right” people or just develop what we have?
How do I know that we do this well? No one is complaining
What area(s) of this Induction component needs improvement? Need release time for New Educator/ Instructional Coach classroom observations
Which area(s) of this Induction component would I like to learn more about? How can we identify the “right” teachers for Instructional Coach assignment
What question about this Induction component do I currently have? Is it important to find the “right” people or just develop what we have?
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