I plan to share my action plan first with our teachers and staff at a staff meeting. Getting the support of our staff is essential to providing successful data to my Action Research Plan. I will meet with staff during our planned PLC staff meeting and present my question and goal for the Freshmen mentoring program. I will begin by first addressing the need for a mentoring program explaining the major changes that freshmen face when they start high school. Many are nervous being the youngest class, some feel lost at our big campus; some doesn’t know the campus norms such as calling the cafeteria the “commons”. Some freshmen also face a challenge dealing with the jump in amounts of homework and responsibility from joining various organizations and sports. Juggling all of these stresses could be too much.
Next I plan to show them the data collected from the TM Mentoring Committee to show them the past reflection of grades, attendance and behavior issues that face 9th graders in the first few weeks of school The data should prove that there are issues with freshmen struggling to maintain good grades and behavior. In addition, I plan ask freshmen teachers what they experience with their freshmen the first few weeks of school and what challenges they face as educators. Finally, I will present my Action Research Plan. My presentation will be short and direct and allow for questions and concerns. I will also have a timeline to show staff and teachers what I hope to have accomplished and by what time. I will also come back with progress reports and surveys to keep an open door for comments and new approaches.
Overall, I hope to spread the word about my Action Research Plan and hope that everyone gets behind my goal. Without their support I would have a hard time gathering needed data and finding out what needs to be fixed. If my action research plan shows my goal can be achieved I can share my ideas with other campuses and our school board.