It wasn’t until after the first week that the spinning began to slow down and I started to see through the fog. Creating a blog wasn’t hard it was actually easy, fun, and frankly a little bit of a stress reliever because it has allowed me to focus on the review of my thoughts for the week and get feedback from my cohorts. This feedback has been very beneficial because it is an outside source that is reviewing my thoughts. They only know what I tell them so if I am not clear enough it brings forth questions. After this reading about quality indicators this week the blog is now going to be even more informative because if I would ask those questions of other principal’s work then why wouldn’t I ask it of myself before putting it out there for all to see?
Midway into week two of this project the spinning stopped, the fog cleared and it all became very clear for me. This project was just the first of many I would be doing over the course of a lifetime. It really isn’t even the first that I have done but it is the first knowing what an action research project was. This program and the internship hours, the job and family, trying to balance everything is all part of being an administrator.
Week two is also where we watched the video interviews one of which was Dr. Kirk Lewis. Dr. Lewis suggests that scholars conducting action research make sure that the topics you research are practical to your environment as a teacher, department, campus, and district. It was also stated that if you are going to use other peoples research in your own quest make sure you tear it apart and see how it can apply to your own district demographically.
Somewhere deep down I am sure I probably already knew what I am saying Dr. Lewis taught me however, I think he just brought it to light for me and made it real. As a teacher I am constantly looking at data to analyze where my students are, where we need to be, and what we need to do to get there. Dr. Lewis stated the best piece of advice he could give someone doing an action research project was to do what is practical to you. A lot of people have great projects in mind but if it isn’t practical to your classroom, department or district it isn’t going to be effective. (Lewis, 2013) Again this is the point where I realized that the freshman academy being implemented on my campus this year would be a great place for my inquiry. Everything fell into place.
I think the most influential activity we did in this course was the action research plan itself. Filling out the 7.1 Template forced me to sit down and think ahead to what my project was going to be and how I was going to break down the design. This template allowed for clear and concise information to be presented. The fill in the blank requirements laid everything out for someone else who would be editing it. If you had given me the assignment to write on my own I would have been lost trying to give you as much information as possible. This template was the perfect outline.
Overall I feel this course is preparing me for the realities of what a principal must go through on a day to day basis: review of oneself and school, research, data analysis, organization, balancing of time and commitments.
In the last two weeks I have discovered that I will be mentoring a brand new teacher, receiving a student teacher and will be in two different classrooms on two different floors this year. Yes.. I did say I started the class overwhelmed but oddly enough I think I can do it. I am concerned about getting everything done and in a mastery sense but I just have to keep repeating over and over again that what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger. It will make me a stronger individual, Christian, mom, teacher, wife, friend, and when I get the chance administrator.
I can sit here and type and tell you I know exactly how I am going to further my ARP and how everything is going to be implemented but that isn't that case. Of course I have a plan and I know where I want it to ho but realistically this is my first real ARP and who knows what the future holds and how it is going to change based on what new demands come my way. What I can tell you is that I am prepared for the fact that change will occur. It is inevitable..the only way I know how to prepare is to know that everything will not go my way. Expect the worst and hope for the best. I am hoping that what does come my way is manageable and will only make things better. Good luck to anyone else reading this because I know you are all in the same boat as I am. We can do this !!! I hope you all have a great year.
