I have been seeking support from the community for donations to use a rewards for students who achieve the goal of raising their grade each six weeks. The support from our community members has been incredible. I want to thank all those who are supporting the Bulldogs Climbing Higher Club at Clyde Junior High School.
I presented the program to the student body at the end of the three weeks. The students seem to be interested in the program. I hope they will work hard each six weeks at improving their grades in English, Math, Science and History.

Something to Think About

What about the teachers? Can we provide an incentive for the teachers too? If all of the teachers would encourage the students to work diligently each six weeks, I believe our students will be successful. A collegue of mine suggested an incentive for the teachers so they will be onboard with this program as well.
The suggestion was to award the teacher with the greatest percentage of students who increased their grade in their subject area. For example; if 47% of the 7th grade students raised their grade in their English class and this was the largest percentage for the entire school, then the 7th grade english teacher would be awarded a prize, for example, free jean pass for Mondays; one week of no duty; or one free pass to not attend a teachers meeting.
This suggestion of involving the teachers through motivation had not occured to me. So thank you for your comments and keep them coming. I am always open to suggestions. And I am ready to encourage and motivate our students to make a change and increase their academic grades.

What Are The Ground Rules?

In order to motivate our students to increase their grades in English, Mathematics, History and Science I will create a new club for ALL students. The club will be called "Bulldogs Climbing Higher". In order to become apart of the club, students must raise their grade in and or all of the four core subject areas from the first three week grading period by 1% by the end of the the first six weeks. Then each of the following six weeks grading period, students must continue to raise their grade by a minimum of 1 percentage point. That's it! Small steps for student success.
The students who meet the requirements each six weeks will have their name displayed in the front hall of the school building for all students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors to see. The students will also be recognized in the local newspaper each six weeks they qualify. Students who raised their grade will be eligable for prizes that the community, faculty, parents and local businesses have agreed to donate.
The results? Hmm.....just think, a student starting the 6th grade at Clyde, who gets a 63% for the first three week grading period in math, decides that he/she wants to be a part of the Bulldogs Climbing Higher Club. This students is successful at raising his/her math grade one percent EACH six weeks for his/her entire junior high school years. By taking these small steps each six weeks the 6th grader, who is now an 8th grader , will have a minimum math grade of an 87% - now that is progress and success!

Student Motivation

I have decided to do my action research on student motivation. I will inquire how public recognition and awards help to change students desire to improve their grade each six weeks in the four core subject areas. This inquiry will be conducted for the 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes in our district.
More to come, so keep checking back

How Can Administrators Use Blogs?

In my opinion, blogging is a tool that administrators can use to keep teachers collaborating among their peers. There are many uses for blogs in a school system. One blog may be posting success stories with the students throughout the year. Another blogging topic can include strategies teachers have used to motivate students and yet another may be ways to aliviate the stress of students for TAKS.
Blogging allows teachers to post their experiences immediately and not wait for a faculty meeting and then forget what it was they wanted to share.

What is Action Research?

Action research "focuses on the concerns of practitioners (not outside researchers) and engages practitioners in the design, data collection, and interpretation of data around their question" (Dana, 2009, pg 5).

In a school setting, this means that research is done within the school walls by the principal, facutly and staff. Individual schools determine what areas or situations need to be addressed and improved, create strategies to improve the situations, implement their strategies, evaluate the outcome and then determine if new strategies need to be created for greater improvement. This is an ongoing cylce, meaning that each school district addresses their own individual problems and makes assessments accordingly.

Action research does not allow for an outside group to conduct research and then relay the findings to the school district and set standards to go by for addressing the issue. Outsiders do not know exactly what the situation is at any paticular campus. Their research is based on general knowledge. Action research is specific to each group or campus and those involved are able to create strategies they determine will work best for their school community.

I believe that action research will benefit schools because of the diverse populations in each district.

Every district, campus, and year creates new challanges. Addressing these challenges through action research allows each school to target specific needs and areas only they can determine.