Action Research Plan: Writing Workshop in Secondary English Language Arts Classrooms
Goal: To determine the impact of the Writing Workshop model will have on student achievement in the area of written composition and classroom writing instruction
1. Discuss Action Steps with site supervisor using district data and internship plan (ongoing)
2. Create 3 year view of 10th grade assessment data for district and targeted campus (March 2011)
3. Research articles, books, and Internet for information on Writing Workshop model at secondary level (February - March 2011)
4. Observe the Writing Workshop model in an elementary classroom (March 2011)
5. Form a curriculum team with teachers from district high schools to review data and determine focus of curriculum shift to writing workshop. (March 2011)
6. Set dates for curriculum team to meet weekly to evaluate and revise current district curriculum to correlate with writing workshop model (March - May 2011)
7. Set up wiki so that curriculum team can correspond with each other as curriculum is rewritten to incorporate components of writing workshop (March 2011)
8. Present writing workshop model to campus department teachers along with curriculum revisions (May 2011)
9. Conduct grade level meetings every six weeks to review effectiveness of writing workshop and preview the components of the upcoming six weeks (Fall 2011 - Spring 2012)
10. Compare 2011 TAKS data of target group with 2012 TAKS data to judge success of writing workshop implementation (Spring 2012)
Mary, I am not an ELA teacher, but your project interests me because I am implementing a science notebook format that will get the students writing more in an effort to increase their scientific literacy. I do think that writing, as we have read in our Research class texts, helps one more fully form ideas and clarifies your own thinking about a topic. I wonder how many other teachers you are including in your ARP, since you reference curriculum teams from multiple high schools. Is this a program that you are already familiar with? Don't bite off more than you can chew - I am only starting my plan with one other teacher, and then will work to implement it across the department in my own school. I think it will be easier to implement change once others can see its effectiveness.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I have formed a small group of teachers who are representing the high schools. This group will be the ones that will meet with me and implement the components of the writin gworkshop. I will work with one specific teacher closely throughout the duration of the project. Thanks for the helpful advice.
ReplyDeleteMary, great job on the research plan. I appreciate your attention to detail, and hard work. I know your research will be valuable, and look forward to the results!
ReplyDeleteDr. Abshire