Action Research Topics

This week we learned about the nine common areas of education action research topics.  These topics are:
1.  Staff Development
2.  Curriculum Development
3.  Individual Teacher(s)
4.  Individual Student(s)
5.  School Culture/Community
6.  Leadership
7.  Management
8.  School Performance
9.  Social Justice or Equity Issues.

According to the videos we watched, the topic we choose has to have meaning to the researcher, be useful to the school,  and be doable.  One must remember that the research is not a tool to control others, that it takes time to formulate the question and to do the research.  They gave us tips on how to frame the question.  We must focus on adult or student learning.

Many reading sources were sited that look very interesting to me:
The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development (2008) 3rd chapter
A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Paysh
Lifelong Guidelines for Our Tools in Citizenship
The Principal's Role in Shaping School Culture by Terrance Deal
What Great Principals Do Differently by Todd Whitaker

Currently, I have three topics of interest:
1.  What are some alternative behvior  management plans we could implement in our school in in what ways are they effective for decreasing student tardiness, increasing proper display of ID, having proper supplies in class, doing homework, and increasing learning success?
2.  How can we inform our parents of ways they can help students succeed in high school classes, particularly math and science classes, to include supplies students bring to school daily, homework requirements, homework resources available to students, the use of ISN in class and nightly review of its contents, etc. and how can we make parents effective partners to ensure their students' success in school?
3.  How can we improve our Bridge Program to better inform parents about the transition their student makes from junior high to high school and to better prepare students to be successful in high school?

I realized that it makes sense that my research topic be one of the 38 topics addressed in my internship plan.