Tuesday, October 30, 2012

O.K.- After finding I did the Week 3 Assignment all wrong... Here is my Action Research Plan!

Action Planning Template
Goal: The goal of this action research project is to determine if classroom meetings positively impact the goals of our new anti-bully program, Olweus.
Action Steps(s):
Person(s) Responsible:
Timeline: Start/End
Needed Resources
Evaluation
1. Initially survey the students using the Olweus survey to determine their feelings on how often they feel bullied, where the bullying is occurring, and how the bullying is addressed by adults.
Stephanie Winfrey (counselor)
myself
October 2012
Computer lab, Olweus survey
Analyze survey results to determine how often, to what extent, and where the bullying is occurring.
2. Training teachers on implementing classroom meetings.
Stephanie Winfrey, Olweus Committee
August 2012-May 2013
Olweus materials (Olweus Guide, Olweus DVD, PowerPoint, Handouts)
Provide practice on conducting classroom meetings, watch model meetings on video, answer questions the teachers may have about the process.
3. Implement weekly classroom meetings
Classroom teachers
October 2012-ongoing
Space to form a circle for the meeting participants, anchor charts
Use the meetings to provide a safe respectful environment to: emphasize the anti-bullying rules, the Mustang Code, and team-building exercises.
4. Survey of teachers relating classroom meetings to class atmosphere, discipline, & difficulty, and amount of meetings actually conducted.
Myself
January 2013
Survey developed by myself for the teachers to fill out anonymously.
Analyze the results to determine if meetings are being conducted on a regular basis, the amount of discipline referrals in relation to bullying issues, and teacher feelings relating to classroom meetings.
5. End of year Olweus Survey the students to determine their feelings on how often they feel bullied, where the bullying is occurring, and how the bullying is addressed by adults.
Stephanie Winfrey (counselor)
myself
May 2013
Computer lab, Olweus survey
Analyze survey results to determine how often, to what extent, and where the bullying is occurring. Compare the results to the beginning of the year survey.
6. Survey of teachers relating classroom meetings to class atmosphere, discipline, & difficulty, and amount of meetings actually conducted.
Myself
May 2013
Survey developed by myself for the teachers to fill out anonymously.
Analyze the results to determine if meetings are being conducted on a regular basis, the amount of discipline referrals in relation to bullying issues, and teacher feelings relating to classroom meetings.
7. Share the findings with the campus personnel.
Stephanie Winfrey (counselor), Olweus Committee, myself
May 2013
Condensed and analyzed survey results
Share results at two different locations: final staff meeting and course blog site.
8. Reevaluate what further steps need to be taken to reduce bullying on our campus.
Olweus committee
May 2013
Olweus Literature
Collaborate as a committee to decide based on our findings, what could be done to further reduce any negativity resulting from bullying on our campus.
9. Share the new current course of action with the campus personnel.
Sam Hicks (principal), Stephanie Winfrey (counselor), Olweus committee, myself
August 2013
Any new literature needed, training materials (if necessary).
Use this time for further encouragement and reminders that our efforts are for a very good purpose- defeating bullying at LWE.

8 comments:

  1. I think this is a really good ARP. Bullying is an issue all over the world. I like the fact that you are involving the kids in your research. Having the teachers trained with strengthen your research. I am interested in more details on the Olweus program. I've never heard of it. What is it?

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    1. Hi Constance! Thanks for posting! The Olweus Program is a new program my district is implementing, because they felt it had the most research to back it up. Here's a link for more info:
      http://www.violencepreventionworks.org/public/index.page

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  2. Bullying is such a hot button topic in schools right now. I would be interested to find out whether students believe that they are bullied more in school or outside (including cyber-bullying). Would the teachers be able to have classroom meetings for students that are being bullied outside of the classroom? If a student accuses another student of bullying and the student accused of doing the bullying denies this, does proof need to be provided?

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    1. Hi Jonathon! Thanks for posting! Since I work at an elementary school, I believe that the cyber-bullying won't be as big of an issue as it would at the junior high and high school level. Although, I'm sure it does probably begin in our 4th and 5th grades, when more students begin to get cell phones. We address cyber-bullying in the classroom meetings, and even if it's not happening at school, it can become a school discipline issue. Of course, proof would need to be provided in order to make sure we aren't putting ourselves at risk by simply punishing a student based on "he said, she said". Our goal however, is to instill in our students a sense of duty to not pass the bullying along, including cyber messages. Hopefully, our classroom meetings will make the students want to tell the "bully" that they don't appreciate their behavior, and it won't be tolerated here at LWE. :)

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  3. I think you have chosen a fantastic action reserach study. With the new legislation that has taken effect this school year that describes in detail what state law makers perceive as bullying and the correlating consequences for it. I would echo what Jonathan mentions above in being sure to include cyber bullying since it might actually have overtaken traditional face-to-face bullying as the most prominent type. Great topic.

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    1. Hi William! Thanks for posting! Since I work at an elementary school, I believe that the cyber-bullying won't be as big of an issue as it would at the junior high and high school level. Although, I'm sure it does probably begin in our 4th and 5th grades, when more students begin to get cell phones. We address cyber-bullying in the classroom meetings, and even if it's not happening at school, it can become a school discipline issue. Of course, proof would need to be provided in order to make sure we aren't putting ourselves at risk by simply punishing a student based on "he said, she said". Our goal however, is to instill in our students a sense of duty to not pass the bullying along, including cyber messages. Hopefully, our classroom meetings will make the students want to tell the "bully" that they don't appreciate their behavior, and it won't be tolerated here at LWE. :)

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  4. Bullying is definitely one of the top things in everyone's mind. I know that my district is implementing a new "bullying curriculum" which school counselors are set to oversee. I like that your plan includes teachers and students. I know that our school counselors conducted student surveys a couple of years ago and the results were very surprising. I think it was expected that the bullying occurred at lunch or recess, but teachers were really surprised that quite a few students felt like they were being bullied in their own classroom. Good luck on your study! Look forward to seeing your results!

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    1. Hi Lilly! Thanks for posting! I feel that we'll be surprised at the results of our surveys also. I know that teachers almost take them personally, because we're doing our best to not let these things happen, and to correct them when they do. We tend to take it hard when we realize some incidents are slipping past us. Hopefully, the program we're implementing will help us catch those incidents that are slipping through the cracks. :)

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