Responsive Classroom Action Research Plan

Goal: To examine the effectiveness of the Responsive Classroom approach in creating a stronger positive climate in grade three.

           Question: Does the implementation of the Responsive Classroom approach help create a stronger positive behavior culture for the students in grade three?

Action Steps	Persons Responsible	Timeline Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Create a survey using survey monkey to assess students feelings towards school climate prior to implementation.	Allyson Story and Catherine O’Keefe (to approve before students complete survey)	September 15-October 3, 2011	Access to Survey Monkey	Analyze the results of the survey for students opinions toward the school/classroom climate.
2. Review research on Responsive Classroom approach	Allyson Story	October 2011 to be completed by November 2011	Teaching Children to Care by Ruth Charney Other published journal articles on Responsive Classroom	Review notes collected from readings that highlight findings the demonstrate effectiveness of the Responsive Classroom approach.
3. Conduct a grade level meeting to discuss teachers’ current strategies for creating a positive classroom climate.	Allyson Story	October 2011 to be completed by November 2011	Meeting space and time to meet with teachers.	Discuss teachers’ ideas and strategies that are currently used. What is currently being done? What is working? What would teachers like to see changed?
4. Observe teachers during first 3 weeks of school develop their classroom community. Both previously trained RC teachers and non RC teachers.	Allyson Story with approval from Catherine O’Keefe and Virginia Rico	To be started during the week of September 12, 2011 and completed by September 29, 2011	Access to third grade classrooms to do observations.	Discuss observations with both the teachers and the administrative team. What is working? What is not working?
5. Train third grade teachers to use the Responsive Classroom approach.	Allyson Story and Jennifer Ringelheim (co-trainer)	To begin five day training in October and Completed by March 2012	Responsive Classroom Training Materials Workbooks for all participants	Compare the evaluation forms from participants in the training to understand teachers’ comfort level with implementing this new approach. To find out what support needs to be provided.
6. Observe teachers using the Responsive Classroom strategies.	Allyson Story with approval from Catherine O’Keefe and Virginia Rico	April 2012 ongoing through May 2012	Access to third grade classrooms to do observations	Classroom Observations
7. Work with individual classroom teachers to provide support toward the implementation of RC.	Allyson Story, Jennifer Ringelheim, Jodie Luongo, Donna Nordone	January 2012 through April 2012	Access to classrooms to work with teachers	Compare past practices used by teachers with RC approach being implemented to note changes in classroom climate.
8. Conduct a post survey for students to again share their feelings about school climate.	Allyson Story with approval from Catherine O’Keefe Third grade classroom teachers and students	To be completed in May 2011	Access to Survey Monkey	Analyze results of the survey from the third grade students.
9. Compare results from the surveys and make further recommendations to school administration team.	Allyson Story	To be completed by June 2011	Results from both surveys conducted on Survey Monkey.	Looking at data collected in the two surveys to find improvements in students’ feedback about school climate.

Process for Monitoring Improvements: To monitor the process of this research I will set up meetings with my supervisor after each step is completed to go over the findings and make adjustments to the next steps based on the results of earlier findings.

Assessment Tools: The survey results from the third grade classes will be used to evaluate if the implementation of Responsive Classroom and its effects on creating a stronger positive behavior climate.