1. Examining the Work: Determing which wondering is the most crucial to campus needs at the moment. Goal: to reduce the absentee rate in the Pre-K program by increasing parental involvement.
2. Analyzing Data: CUM folders, absence reports, teacher and parent surveys, informal surverys, book studies, journals, articles, student writing samples, DRA levels.
3. Developing Deeper Understanding: Interview parents privately to determine if there are special/unusual circumstances for student absences.
4. Engaging in self reflection: Determine if the concern lies in needing to change my own teaching style.
Do I teach while keeping in mind all types of learners?
Do I reteach when needed?
Do I allow students who are absent the opportunity to play catch- up?
5. Exploring patters: Are the absences higher in the bilingual or regular classrooms?
Are the 3 yr. olds showing a higher absentee rate than the 4 yr. olds?
Is there a pattern of more girls absent than boys, or vice versa?
Are the absentee rates higher in a 2 parent household or a 1 parent household?
6. Determining direction: All pre-k teachers will be involved in any professional development required to gain a better understanding of parental involvement. Assessment/report card periods will give an insight into the success of the action research plan. Continue to support two-way communication between teachers and parents, administration and parents, and teachers and students.
7. Taking action for school improvement:* gather absence reports, *kindergarten cum folders
*develop parent and teacher surverys, *conduct book studies (journal, articles, etc.)
*collect student samples, *share findings with parents and all pre-k staff, *develop a plan of implementation with parents, *evaluate second semester absenses.
8. Sustaining Improvement: Implement the CARE model. Affirmation: already practicing two-way communication and support parental involvement
Concern: high absences
Recommendation: attain a goal of improving parental involvement, develop deeper relationships with parents by way of communication
Evaluations: 2nd semester attandance reports
Ana: Your topic of action research plan is very similar to mine. I am very glad to find a partner whom I can share my findings. I am bilingual prekindergarten teacher and my topic is: How to improve performance in bilingual prekindergarten student in terms of attendance , discipline and parent involvement. Your blog is awesome!
ReplyDeleteAre your students at-risk or special education (i.e. deaf education)? Is there an attendance policy for pre-k students? I like the idea of speaking privately to the parents to determine the reasons for the absense, but will they be truthful if they just wanted to sleep in? I really like your action plan and ideas!
ReplyDeleteCatherine: Thanks for your comments. My students are Spanish speakers. In my level we receive special students that requires special atention as language teraphy sessions. They are not tested yet if they qualify for special ed. We have attendance policy. If they being absence often or in a pattern (every Friday), they will receive a call from administator. If still they have a problem of being absent: are filed and send them to court.
ReplyDeleteAna: I will think about your recommendation about previous prekindergarten students. Thanks for your comments. I need to check first because we had a big change in our campus three years ago. We moved from PK-1st to PK-3rd. I will let you know soon.
ReplyDelete