The beginning of Action Research

After reading the text, I’ve come to understand the meaning behind action research. During my meeting with my principal this week, she asked me what I thought it meant and I was providing an answer I wasn’t quite sure about, I think in fear of questioning that I would not be able to answer. Although, my principal provided great support about what she believed action research was and we compared our thoughts. The helpful subject about meeting with my principal is she too is going to school to fulfill her doctorate and we are able to share our weeks, and count down the five week periods we go through, but best of all support one another and I’m able to ask questions. During my readings I found that action research is finding a potential problem within the school and looks for ways to change the inquiry. There are many things we do not see as teachers, but an administrator might notice. However, during the presentation of my inquiry I felt we shared the same view. My inquiry was about how to improve third grade scores on the standardized test, because in the past years they have been so low. It came to wondering is there an educational gap during the transition from second to third, are lower grades not held up to the full standard as tested grade levels. All these questions became part of the inquiry, providing so many variables to the study. Although in the end it is about fitting the needs of the student and teachers and providing them with the best support to accomplish goals within themselves and to know they can succeed at anything. The use of action research will provide answers and understanding to these questions and begin to take steps in ways that work to improve the scores.