Update on Action Research

At this time in my Action Research Project, I’ve completed three out of twelve steps. I chose to complete my Action Research Project on, “The Effectiveness and Benefits of Targeting 7^th Grade LEP Struggling Readers in Technology Based Intervention Reading Programs.” Since we’ve not met AYP for the second year, we’ve decided to target our LEP/ESL students in a Read180 or Achieve 3000 technology based reading intervention program classes. After two hours of discussing, adding, and improving my action planning template with my site mentor’s approval, we looked over the placement list and testing scores from the STAAR test, in addition to the Scholastic Reading Inventory test and Level Set test for lexile levels from the last given test at the end of 2012. I talked with the counselor regarding our 7^th  grade  LEP students and the available licenses needed to ensure these students will be in a Read180 class or enrolled in the Achieve 3000 database that is not as intense of an  intervention as Read180. We also discussed if this would be the appropriate placement for most. These discussions and data study with the principal, DI, and counselor has taken eight hours.  Mr. Gilliam and I administered the Scholastic Reading Inventory test through the Read180 database known as Scholastic Achievement Manager (SAM), which is a comprehensive online management system that collects and organizes student performance data. SAM gives teachers instant access to critical performance data that lets them correctly assess and place students, group and instruct by student needs, as well as monitor overall class progress. I’ve assisted the basic reading teachers in completing the Level Set test for Achieve 3000. We will not receive data for grouping and benchmark skills that need to be addressed until the students have completed four activities. Although, we have been able to examine the lexile levels in Achieve 3000, I am finding discrepancy between those lexiles and the lexile levels from the SRI testing. I will be conferring with the District Reading Coordinator about this issue next week.