EDLD 5326 Sec 1304 Week 5 Post

Action Research Project Title: RtI—Response To Intervention

Blog URL:  http://LyndaLarge.blogspot.com

Number of AR Project Documented Hours: 12 hours

AR Project Summary (at least 250 words):

My Action Research project has gotten off to a wonderful start. The first step I took was to sit down with my principal and talk with her about our campus goals for RtI. We decided on a few main goals for this year.

v  Align Primary and Intermediate RtI Process

v  Directly involve Region 13 representative in revamping RtI process

v  Educate faculty on RtI and its functioning 3 Tiers

The following are the steps I have taken as I began my journey through RtI:

      Collaborated with the Primary Campus and Intermediate Campus on how they looked at the RtI process.

      Researched all RtI paperwork, communicated with Region Center on what paperwork they used for RtI, and read through multiple RtI process books examining the paperwork given with their outlined process. Came to a consensus as to what we preferred to use to simplify our paperwork for documentation.

      Invited Region 13 representative for an all day conference with principal and assistant principal (me) to examine our RtI program. We went through it with a fine tooth comb. She guided us through each level (Tier) of RtI.

      Talked with Title I teachers and Behavior teachers on both campuses and identified all extra programs, beyond general education classroom curriculum. Labeled what was being used as Tier 2 intervention, emphasizing that each student’s goals were to be different from one another when on Tier 2 as well as their learning environment being in a different place outside the general ed. classroom.

      Discussed program with CM teacher to make sure any student on Tier 2 has a yellow RtI folder with documentation started after having a student study committee meeting on that student with general education teacher.

      Will meet with teachers at faculty meetings on Tuesday and educate them on the RtI process, with updates each month.

      Vertical and Horizontal Alignment Teams should be discussing students needs as necessary and assist in creating interventions along with the classroom and Title I teachers.

      Tier 3 and beyond is where Special Education comes into focus if completely necessary. When all interventions outside of Special Ed. have been exhausted, we should have the necessary documentation in place for requested testing into Special Ed.

There has already been great success as we met with the Region 13 representative. She gave us some valuable advice and structure to our RtI program based on our needs as she assessed our situation. We have met with Title I teachers and they are on board with us and understand the necessity to use differentiated instruction as well with individualized plans in place for each child’s needs.

Once again, I feel this course and past courses have led to wonderful implementation of programs that needed tweaking to fit our schools’ educational needs. I feel fortunate to be learning so rapidly, the processes that will lead to greater student success.

CARE Model: Planning Tool from 5301 Week 4 assignment

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool

Identify Concerns that must change (look to the future)

(Assign points to concerns from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. Consistency is pertinent for RTI to succeed as a whole.

2. Training through the region center or by administration to educate teachers on the process and steps will happen to implement RTI for at risk students.

3. Follow up, feedback, and assessment is a must for teacher buy in. Teachers need to know this is the only way to acquire needed documentation for a child to be referred to special education or 504.

Identify Affirmations that must be sustained (look to the present)

(Assign points to affirmations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. Through RTI, less demand for referrals to special education.

2. Collaboration within RTI committee helps the general education teacher create interventions for her/his at risk students.

3. RTI committee is overseen by administration. Administration is directly involved.

SMART Recommendations that must be implemented:

(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely)

(Assign points to recommendations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important recommendations to implement.)

1. At risk students are identified by general education teachers.

2. Student success is measured through informal and formal assessment, thus making sure the student is having positive experiences learning within the appropriate goals set during intervention.

3. Following through with intervention, then, following up with RTI committee to discuss intervention success or failure.

EVALUATE – Specifically and Often

(Identify the best ways to evaluate the implemented recommendations.)

1. General education teacher generates documentation of success or failure of intervention.

2. Committee meets and assesses data provided by general education teacher after she/he has carried out first/second Tier interventions created by RTI committee.

3. Stopping at Tier 1 or Tier 2 if intervention has been successful. If needing to go onto Tier 3, make sure a special education representative is present for recommendations.

Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan

Goal:  Improving and restructuring RTI process for Krueger Elementary

Action Steps	Person/s Responsible	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1) RTI Professional development will be the first activity designed to achieve the objective. All faculty will attend an online RTI training from Region 13	Lynda Large Krueger Elementary assistant principal) will be the person responsible for this action research plan.	The timeline for this action research project will begin the week of August 20, 2012 and end June 2012.	Julie Brown (Krueger Elementary principal) and Lynda Large are still looking at a couple of different RTI formats for our RTI committee to use. We want to find one that will fit our campus needs.	The process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives will be an RTI program from our campus service center Region 13.
An RTI committee will be formed.	Principal- Julie Brown		RTI information from 2011-2012 school year will be acquired and studied. Outcomes of success and possible referrals for special education will be noted.	Faculty will be trained on how to use the appropriate paperwork.
. From that time on, meeting with the RTI committee will be ongoing. Follow up on each student will be decided as an intervention is created.	RTI Committee Members

Action Research Statement:  How can the Krueger Elementary Response to Intervention (RTI) process be improved upon to create more effective results for our at risk students?

Action Research Blueprint:  

1. My objective for this action research plan is to improve the Response to Intervention process at Krueger Elementary based on a restructuring of the RTI process.

2. RTI Professional development will be the first activity designed to achieve the objective. All faculty will attend an online RTI training from Region 13.  From that time on, meeting with the RTI committee will be ongoing. Follow up on each student will be decided as an intervention is created.

3. RTI information from 2011-2012 school year will be acquired and studied. Outcomes of success and possible referrals for special education will be noted.

4 The timeline for this action research project will begin the week of August 20, 2012 and end June 2012.

5. Lynda Large Krueger Elementary assistant principal) will be the person responsible for this action research plan.

6. The process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives will be an RTI program from our campus service center Region 13.

7. Julie Brown (Krueger Elementary principal) and Lynda Large are still looking at a couple of different RTI formats for our RTI committee to use. We want to find one that will fit our campus needs.

I'm beginning to get a grip on this blogging. I love all the ideas for action research. It will make for a nice check list as I begin the new year and for years to come as I see needs arise to question processes within our school. Thanks to all for the great questions to Dr. Abshire. They are very helpful. I am learning a lot about technology as well.

Blogs for educational leaders could be most useful. They are a quick way to share day-to-day information and experiences with classmates such as ourselves. Online courses are wonderful, but I do miss that connection of conversing and sharing what worked and gaining insight to questions I might have or might be struggling to solve. I hope I can utilize this blog in the way it was intended and gain many friends through the process.

What I haved learned about action research during week 1

Action research by name was not familiar to me. Once I started reading about the inquiry it involved, it then made perfect sense.  I am on a campus that uses this process. We are small, yet work very hard to improve ourselves as professionals to increase our student learning. This means we meet collectively in PLC's, Leadership Teams, and administrators are involved in university course work. 

Each group does come together with a question in mind of how improvement in one area can be reached. Norms and goals are then created with a time line. Assessing takes place either with the administrator or the teachers. Data over time is collected and the groups study the data and reflect on what worked and what still might need improvement. Sometimes it means a new question must be posed if the original goal was not met, other times a new goal is made as progress is evident from the previous goal.

Action research to me is and can be a very personal tool especially as the element of reflection is added to the mix.  " Learning reflective practice is one of the goals of the internship." (School Leader Internship, p.107) This will be a very powerful strategy for growth and improvement as I fulfill my goal to become an effective administrative leader.

I am trying this out to see if I did it correctly. This is all so new to me.