Week 2 Reflection- I have a plan!

This week was fantastic! I really enjoyed the readings and watching the videos.  I gained wonderful insight to what is important as an educational leader. As a principal, you are not simply managing a school. A great leader motivates the teachers, and students. A great leader recognizes that people are what makes a place great. School culture and a positive school climate is important to hiring and retaining your staff. I learned that you have to be a great listener, and also a knowledgeable decision-maker. 

Best of all this week, I finally decided what I am going to be doing my action researchh on... drum roll please...

How can implementing a flipped classroom increase student achievement in my elementary classroom?


I choose this topic to research because this encompasses everything I am passionate about. I love technology, I have a interest in using social media tools in the classroom, and I want to use project-based learning in the classroom. Implementing a flipped classroom will allow me to do this, and do this effectively and efficiently!

How leaders can use blogs

Blogging is the new age of emailing, but better!  Blogs create a virtual place for people to come together and communicate! We learn from one another, and we can now collaborate from anywhere in the world, or from the comfort of our home. In the classroom, we use blogs to communicate with parents and students. Leaders can use blogs to interact with parents and the community. It is a way to have open communication by posting "What's happening in school". Principals can use blogs to post newsletters, and to reach a large audience. We know that not one person has the all the answers. Blogs provide a interactive communication tool where others can give or seek advice or answers. It is a place where information is given with a simple click of a mouse! Ready, set, blog!

What I have learned about Action Research

So far, I have learned so much about action research and how it will help me to be a better leader. Action research is a systematic process of studying one's own practices reflectively. This is done by thinking about your self as a teacher and leader, and assessing your ability. Action research involves questioning, and reflecting on what you are doing, and it results in change. It involves taking a closer look around, and then working collaboratively towards a common goal. It creates a climate of shared leadership and builds a positive culture within the a school. Everyone is working towards improving student achievement. 


Action research can be applied to a variety of topics in the the educational world. A great way to get started, it to implement PLC's where data is discussed and a problem can be identified. Its about taking steps to identify a wondering or an issue, collecting data, and interpretation of the data. According to the data, a plan of action is created, and then a change is implemented. Action research is a personalized approach for schools, because it is done in the school or classroom. I have reflected on what I have learned, and see how I will use action research in my classroom. I plan to investigate project based learning with the use of technology. I want to see if students are more engaged. When students are engaged, they are learning, and there are minimal interruptions or discipline problems because the kids are having fun! Isn't that what learning should be about? My goal is to keep learning fun and interesting, we as teachers are life-long learners, I want to instill those values in my students. 



Dana Fichman, Nancy (2009). Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.