Step 1- Setting the Foundation: As a classroom teacher I see unmotivated students every year. It is our job to find a way to motivate all students to ensure they have a successful year and reach their potential.
Step 2- Analyzing Data: I will be looking at repeat offenders from office referrals, talking with teachers about students who appear unmotivated year after year, looking at the grades of these students over a period of time as well as teacher comments on report cards and cumulative folders.
Step 3-Developing a Deeper Understanding: I will begin reading text and researching websites to find out some of the reasons students appear unmotivated as well as research techniques that can be used to motivate students.
Step 4- Self-Reflection: I will reflect on what I myself have done (or not done) in the past to motivate students and what the end results were. I will use what I have learned to reflect and make sure I write the most effective student questionnaire that I can as well as ask strong interview questions for teachers and students involved. I will also reflect on how the information learned during the research project will be utilized most effectively.
Step 5- Exploring Pragmatic Patterns: Before beginning, I will ask my supervisor and team leader to look over my interview questions and my questionnaire to ensure that they cover all areas. I will also ask for advice on how often they think I should meet with students and ask for any suggestions as to other resources I should include in my project (parent contact, report cards, etc.)
Step 6-Determining Direction: I am very clear on what I am trying to solve. The topic is focused enough that I won’t get off track. I am confident that I have the skills and resources necessary to adequately address my topic. My supervisor is completely on board and willing to collaborate with me. I will need to speak with other co-workers once school resumes to ensure that they are willing to work with me. My timelines are very realistic because this is a project that will take all year to complete and requires me to meet with each student about 5 times during the year. My plan to monitor the project is reasonable because most of it centers on reviewing student and teacher interviews. In actuality, my plan to determine success most likely won’t occur until the following year because teachers will be able to implement the successful motivational techniques found at the beginning of the school year. It will most likely take all of this school year to find motivational techniques that work, but they will be implemented from the beginning of the year during the 2011-2012 year.
Step 7- Taking Action: I will use template 7.1 to help me put my plan into action and keep me on track. I will also use my supervisor and team leader throughout the year as well as the teachers involved in the research project.
Step 8-Sustain Improvement: Hopefully at the end of the project, after I’ve presented my findings to the staff, I will be able to maintain the positive aspects of my findings by utilizing the blogs and the website as well as staff collaboration.
