Ireland Bound

Okay classmates. I am off to Ireland. Leaving on Saturday, July 24 and will return seriously jet lagged on Friday July 30.
When we arrive we will go and see Trinity College and the Book of Kells,Famine Memorial, Dublin Castle and go to a pub for dinner and traditional Irish songs and step-dancing (maybe I will audition :) The second day we will go kiss the Blarney stone at the Castle, view the Rock of Cashel Castle and drive through the Macgillycuddy Reeks to Killarney. The third day will take us to the Ring of Kerry and the Skelligs, Muchkross Gardens and a sheepdog demonstration. The fourth day is a trip to the River Shannon and along the Clare coast to the Cliffs of Moher and on to Bunratty Castle for a medieval dinner show. The next day is back to Dublin via Limerick and Kildare where we will do our final night of pubbing. Since our flight leaves at 6 am the next day and you have to get to the airport so early we plan on pubbing all night and sleeping on that really long flight home.

So now you know why I did week 3 so early. I am not overachieving but getting ready for my summer highlight. Top of the day ta ya all!

Action Plan Week Three

The action plan below has gone through several revisions. It occurs to me that as many of us have pointed out, often action research in group settings and/or learning communities don't really do much good. I believe this to be because we start out trying to do research because of someones passion or great idea but we really haven't taken the time to do action research on action research or on learning communities and how to utilize them effectively. We must take the time to learn to collaborate and critically look at data and research and use it, problem solve, revise, publish, back up and do what we need to suit our needs. The journey is as important as the destination sometimes. Hopefully this plan will help move my school in the right direction. Lynda

Action research plan lynda kieler 3

View more documents from lkieler.

Action Research Considerations Week Two

As an instructional leader who hopes to create a strong school culture where everyone is focused on one goal- student achievement, there are important considerations. Before action research can be effective, teachers and other stakeholders who may be involved in the research must be taught to critically analyze data and research. They must be aware of qualitative and quantitative research techniques and continually keep the focus of their research project.

It seems to me that the professional development of how to begin initiate and hold effective learning communities would be advantageous, too. These action research communities then would become support and mentoring opportunities for teacher leaders to test the practicality of the research they find in solving whatever issue they need to solve to improve student achievement.

It is also important to make sure that everyone respects confidentiality and follows district policy when permission is needed for testing, and that all data is kept secure.

Taking the time to help build this foundation could help move a school toward the collaboration and problem solving, action team that is needed in today's high stakes environment.

Blogging As An Effective Tool of Educational Leaders

Though schools are using technology more, the use of blogs is probably an underused tool by administrators and teachers. However, the use of blogs can be of great value in the educational world, especially of the educational leader.

Blogs can be used by the educational leader as a journal or reflection of their experiences or questions and even their solutions. It serves as a reminder over time of what they have done and tried while giving opportunity for others around the world to comment, offer solutions, ideas or other concerns as well. In other words, the opportunity for collaboration is great. Blogs could also serve a leader as sources of data or links to other references as well. Blogs help to collaborate with others, build a support group that can be accessed at any time most advantageous for the leader.

Hopefully, blogs will be utilized more by those in education due to courses like this one that help make us comfortable with their use. It has been said that it is lonely at the top. With the use of technology such as blogs, this does not have to be true.

Action Research and Me

In today's educational climate the stakes are higher. Gone are the days where principals can sit back and just manage the campus and teachers can teach using materials and units that are fun and just cover the topics at each grade level. Today instructional leaders and teachers must use the data from tests and make the best choices for the students in all sub-populations so that the students master grade level TEKS and pass the TAKS test so that the school doesn't land itself in AYP.

Action Research can help administrators and teachers to solve problems or issues that need solving. It involves the action researcher in the issue to find solutions that work for them. Therefore, I see action research as just a way of doing business in today's educational climate. I see myself using action research in my current assignment to solve issues related to gifted education that not only take into account the best practices as identified by university researchers but by a collaboration between myself and others with similar demographics and concerns. It involves trial and error and continually striving to improve. This can be used by teachers in their professional learning communities and by administrators who are trying to improve the school climate, the community involvement or any number of issues that come up.

As a future administrator I could use action research to improve the school culture, instructional strategies that meet the needs of all sub-populations, and improve disciple and safety on the campus.