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Action
Planning Template
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Goal:
In an effort to improve parent relations, what actions will be effective in
positively impacting school culture and increasing parental involvement on
our campus?
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Action Steps(s):
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Person(s) Responsible:
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Timeline: Start/End
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Needed Resources
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Evaluation
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Survey
parents and teachers regarding potential campus activities and perceptions of
current school culture
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Catharine
James
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January
15-January 31, 2013
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Survey
Monkey;
Printed
copies of survey;
Teachers;
Parents
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Review
completed surveys and compile results; share with teachers and
administration; use results to determine future direction
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“For the
Love of Reading”
Family
Reading Night
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Catharine
James
Sue Weller,
Principal
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February
12, 2013-February 12, 2013
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Building
Facilities;
Teachers;
Valentine
Books;
Treats
(i.e., bookmarks);
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Parent
Sign-in Sheets to monitor numbers in attendance;
Interviews;
Feedback
Survey;
Digital
Pictures; Field Notes
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Parent
Night-tips and tricks to maintain learning over the summer
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Catharine
James
Sue Weller,
Principal
PTO
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May 9,
2013-May 9, 2013
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Building
Facilities;
Babysitters;
Snacks;
Handouts
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Parent
Sign-in Sheets to monitor numbers in attendance;
Interviews;
Feedback
Survey;
Digital
Pictures;
Field Notes
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“Fright
Night” Family Reading Night
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Catharine
James
Sue Weller,
Principal
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October 29,
2013- October 29, 2013
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Building
Facilities;
Teachers;
Halloween
Books;
Candy
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Parent
Sign-in Sheets to monitor numbers in attendance;
Interviews;
Feedback
Survey
Digital
Pictures;
Field Notes
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Interview a
cross-section of parents regarding perceptions of campus culture and to gain
more ideas for improving parental involvement
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Catharine
James
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September
30-November 7, 2013
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Parents;
Recording
Sheet
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Review and
compile answers from interviews; share with teachers and administration to
determine future direction
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Other steps
to be determined based on parent feedback
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Catharine
James
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Spring
2013-Spring 2014
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Necessary
resources will depend on the activity
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Parent
Sign-in Sheets if applicable;
Interviews;
Field
Notes;
Digital
Pictures;
Parent
Feedback
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School wide
survey of teachers and parents to assess campus culture and effectiveness of
research project
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Catharine
James
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March
2014-May 2014
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Survey
Monkey;
Printed
copies of survey;
Parents;
Teacher
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Disaggregate
data and compare to previously acquired information to determine progress
made; share acquired learning with teachers and parents
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Sunday, December 9, 2012
Action Research Plan
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This is a very important project. Parental involvement is such an important part of their child's success, and I see very little of it on our campus. Finding successful ways to get parents involved and keep them involved will be a benefit not only to your school, but to other schools as well.
ReplyDeleteMy action research is also on parental involvement. Im very interested your idea of "Parent night tips and tricks to maintain learning during the summer" it is so important for our students to keep reading during the summer. Some students seem they totally forgot everything they learned a year before because they do absolutely no reading during the summer. Please let me know how it goes with that. I would like to apply it in my school. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think that parental involvement is a great idea. In my community it feels like that parents are too busy to be involved. There seems to always be something else to do instead of attend some of the events that we plan as a campus. I look forward to finding our if your parent night tips and tricks works. I might steal the idea for our campus if it does work. I look forward to following you and finding out how to be successful in getting our parents back to a good level of involvement.
ReplyDeleteDoug, I think that time is an issue for parents everywhere. That's why I want to plan activities that parents tell me they want, and not just plan a bunch of stuff that sounds good to us as teachers. But for the things that I have already planned, my goal is to have an educational focus like literacy or math in a fun setting that makes parents want to attend the function. Unfortunately, I had to cut the Parent Night from what will be posted in the next few days. My principal feels like childcare will be too big of an issue, and she's probably right. For now we're focusing on things the entire family can attend. I can ask in my survey if parents would be interested in functions tailored just for them.
DeleteWhat a great topic! I don't think we can ever have enough parent involvement!! Do you live in a small community where the parents are actively involved? It seems like our elementary schools have better results with this than we do a the middle school which I am sure is typical anywhere you are at. I like your idea for summer involvement. Something you might think about that is successful for us is our summer reading program. Our school library is open once a week throughout the summer for our students to come and check out books. They can also test over the AR books and get credit/bonus work when school starts! I have worked it the past few years and really enjoy being up there visiting with the students and parents. We don't have a huge turnout but those that come, come regularly. Good luck with your plan. I look forward to following you and seeing your results!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion about summer reading. Yes, I do live in a small community, but we have very little parent involvement. Part of the reason for the surveys is to find out why that is. Is it because we simply haven't extended an invitation and made them feel welcome? Or is there something else we need to know so that we can correct it. The only drawback to the summer reading at school is that our library is staffed by one aide. I would have to run that program...if they would let me. But I like the idea. I've been at bigger schools that do that. Fortunately, we have a community library that does a wonderful summer program. Maybe I could find a way to encourage or participate in that. Any suggestions? Thanks for your comment!
DeleteWe did a summer reading program at the last school I taught at. The students were asked to keep a log of the books they read, and they could come in and test on them if they were A.R. books, and they also got some kind of reward for reading over the summer. Our little kids loved the rewards, and our older kids loved that they could test over the books for A.R. A.R. is a struggle for the middle school. I think the library would be a great place to start if you don't have enough library staff at the school. You could team up with them, and I know they would appreciate the extra help. Good luck with your project. Parental involvement is so huge! Plus, you are tackling another major issue...Reading Development and Comprehension.
DeleteMy wife is reading specialist,and I know how important it is to read with your kids. We both teach at the same campus that our children go to, and we still feel like we don't spend enough time with them. You can never have to much parent involvement. Great project.
ReplyDeleteCatharine- I love your ideas! Some other suggestions might be to have incentives for parents that attend (Meals,Free Books, etc..)For some reason those types of things always seem to increase the number of attendees. How are you going to ensure that parents give you feedback?
ReplyDeleteShannon, maybe door prizes?? Parent feedback is going to be twofold--surveys and interviews. Besides the general survey at the beginning and end of the research, I want to get feedback from parents before they leave the event. You know how you get a little evaluation form when you go to professional development? Something like that. But I also want to interview parents during (if appropriate for the type of activity) and after an activity, because a survey that goes home via their child could easily get overlooked or forgotten. In addition to feedback, just the sheer number of attendees will count for something. The fact that x number of people show up will tell us whether they are interested in what we're doing. Thanks for the suggestion of incentives. I will definitely incorporate that!
DeleteYou were asking about increasing parental involvement- movie night is always fun. Sell/or get donated food for free hotdogs, pizza, popcorn machine. Connect it with a book students have read ahead and have a poster contest for a favorite scene or character competition. Parents are always looking for cheap entertainment- rule is no dropping off students. They must be accompanied by an adult. Once a month in summer, use a data projector, or some places have the blowup screen projectors for rent. (you would have to charge admission if you couldn't get a sponsor). I am sure a parent committee would be helpful in planning and helping with events.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions, Sharon! Thanks!
DeleteNice idea! Your plan looks great! All I could come up with would be ideas to get parents involved that might consider. What about having a parent night at the local library, if possible. You could get students signed up for their summer library cards, show them different sections of the library...whatever might be possible. Also, what about the "Bring Your Family to School" day? I don't know much about it but I have heard of it. Do you have a Chick-fil-A in your city? If you do, they get involved with schools too. You could possibly create a list and have teachers, students, and/or parents vote on activities. Hope this help in any way...GOOD LUCK! Sound like fun!!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I hope it works. It is an interesting idea and I think that we need more of this in our schools. Parents really need to be involved. It would be good if parents had some idea of what our school offers and realize how much our schools are trying to improve their children's lives. Looking forward to seeing your results.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Darla! I'm becoming more excited about this as I'm reading everyone's comments. I hope we get good results...but if we don't, then as long as I can find out WHY, my project will still have been useful in gathering much needed information!
DeleteThanks, Heather! I like the library idea. No, we don't have Chick-fil-A. We live in a little bitty town. We don't even have a McDonald's! Imagine that! I will be doing surveys and interviews to solicit ideas from parents. That's why I only have a few things pre-planned. I want to hear from parents what they want to see going on in our school.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great plan and great ideas! Busy parents are in deed everywhere. I think the programs you are interested in developing could certainly increase the positive effects of your culture! I look forward to seeing your progress
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to seeing your findings. I love the idea of the family reading night! Sharing the love of literacy is a great thing! I think with my students that may be challenging as many of their parents don't speak English very well. Yet this gives me a great idea..How about a family ESL night? That could be so fun!
ReplyDeleteSure, Gretchen! Why not an ESL night? I'd love to know how you organize one if you were to do it! We also have many parents with limited English, but hey, they can come listen to stories with their kids! It would be a night of immersion!
DeleteWhere is the math? Sorry, I am a math teacher so I am kind of jealous with all the great activities that you will be having with parents regarding reading. Maybe you could get someone to assist you with the mathematics. Just wanted to throw it out there.
ReplyDeleteRoberto, I agree with you! In my revised plan, I am actually going to put a math night. However, it will take a little more planning than the reading nights, and I think it's important to start small. I don't want to overwhelm the teachers right from the beginning.
Delete