Draft Action Research Plan

SCHOOL VISION: Terra Vista Middle School wants to raise the percent of students meeting expectations and commended levels on the Science TAKS test.

GOAL: We want eighth grade science students to be able to effectively use the “frame and name” vocabulary strategy in order to accurately determine word meaning and increase their scores by at least 10% from the Frame & Name pre-test to post-test, with students at the highest proficiency level maintaining their scores.

Outcome 1: Determine if instruction in vocabulary strategies improves students’ ability to comprehend word meaning and usage
Activities: Administer Frame & Name Pre-Test and Post-Test
Resouces:
1. Write Source 2000: (Sebranek, Meyer, & Kemper, 1990, pp. 374-376, 378-384)
2.Roots: (DeForest, 2000)
3.TOEFL-Prefixes, Roots, & Suffixes, (Preparation for an American University)
Responsibilities: Master Teacher will create pre-test and post-test. Classroom teachers will
administer tests. Master Teacher will collect and analyze test data.
Timeline:Pre-Test: 10/31/10 and Post-Test: 1/24/11
Assessment: Science 8 Bench-mark 12/16/10, TAKS 2011 Science

Outcome 2: Evaluate if teachers consistently and uniformly teach the pre-selected skills and close monitor growth.
Activities: Observe classroom instruction, analyze student work, and conduct teacher surveys.
Resources: Walkthrough observation forms, student work samples, and teacher surveys
Responsibilities: Master and mentor teachers along with administration will conduct
observations. Cluster groups will analyze student work samples. Master
teachers will create and conduct teacher surveys.
Timeline: Teacher Observations: 11/5/10-1/15/11; Student Samples 11/5/10-1/15/11;
Teacher Surveys 1/16/11
Assessment: n/a

Outcome 3: Assess if students will internalize strategies derived from in-class instruction and
transfer these skills to non-directed classroom activities.
Activities: Administer post-test and conduct student surveys.
Resources: Frame & Name Post-test and student surveys
Responsibilities: Master teachers will use pre-test as post-test. Classroom teachers will
administer post-tests. All students will complete surveys.
Timeline: Frame & Name Post-Test 1/24/11; Student Surveys 2/6/11
Assessment: Science 8 Bench-mark 12/16/10, TAKS 2011 Science