1. ACTION RESEARCH PLAN Casana. Lafayette EDU695: MAED Capstone (MRL1516A) Instructor: LaRon Scott

2. MY ACTION RESEARCH PLAN “Action research is a process of democratizing research and educational practice. It is a democratic orientation to professional practice, a way of learning and improving oneself and one's practice” (Landrum,2013,6.3). As I reflect on this statement I think of ways that I can improve my teaching, my class and my student’s academics. “Action Research has given me a systematic way to make changes in my classroom and determine if those changes are worthwhile” (Mills,2014,p.214). As a teacher I plan to make my classroom excellent and better through my action research plan. “Individual teacher research usually focuses on a single issue in the classroom. My problem in my classroom is that I feel that the parents are not involved like they should be. Therefore my plan will be on parent involvement. “Parental involvement is any parental attitudes, behaviors, style, or activities that occur within or outside the school setting to support children's academic and/ or behavioral success in their currently enrolled school”( Young, Austin, & Growe, 2013). I feel that parent involvement is important. “The importance of parent involvement in a child's education is beyond question. Research on parent involvement consistently supports the positive effect it has on student achievement (Farber, & Goldstein, 1998).

3. Area of Focus Statement: Parent Involvement on Preschool Students’ Academic Achievement and Growth I want to focus on helping my student’s academic levels rise by involving their parents in their academic growth and progress. The key to my student’s success starts with parent involvement.

4. Parental involvement is a powerful influence on educational outcomes of children. “Hill and Tyson stated, family-school relations and parental involvement in education have been identified as a way to close demographic gaps in achievement and maximize students' potential. Research has shown positive associations between parental involvement and student grades, rates of participation in advanced courses, lower dropout rates, motivation toward school work, and valuing of education” (Gonzalez,2013). Parent Involvement on Student’s Academic Achievement and Growth in the Learning Process This is the link to watch my video about the purpose of my Research Plan: https://youtu.be/QsyRGAZeXkY The purpose of my study is to focus on the impact of parent involvement on preschool student’s academic achievement and growth in the learning process.

5. PARENTS ARE THE FIRST TEACHERS OF THEIR CHILD Parents should be included in the learning process and they should be involved in their child’s education. This class has shown me the importance as well as opened my eyes to the various ways of parent involvement in different cultures. “Research suggests that parents who promote a positive attitude toward persistence and work as a whole, increase student achievement” (Wardle, 2013).

6. “Research questions breathe life into the area-of-focus statement and help provide focus for the action researcher’s data collection plan” (Mills, 2014,p.218). 1.What does parent involvement mean to you? 2.What are some activities to better get parents involved in their child’s education? 3.What strategies can we use as teachers to help break the cycles and excuses used for non-parent involvement? Research Questions

7. 1. What does parent involvement mean to you? This is an important question; a question that I asked my parents. “Many parents and educators have different perceptions of what parental involvement means”(Young, Austin, & Growe, 2013). I asked this question to my parents in a questionnaire. “While educators define parental involvement as being involved in the education process by helping in the school and helping out with homework parents often see parental involvement as getting their children to school on time and solving issues at home that involve them”(Young, Austin, & Growe, 2013).While this may truthful, I also want parents to get the understanding that being involved in their child’s academics and school work is a part of parent involvement also. Parent involvement is simply being active in your child's life; being involved in your child's education and growth anyway possible.

8. 2. What are some activities to better get parents involved in their child’s education? Some “parents do not know how to help a child academically” (Young, C. Y., Austin, S. M., & Growe, R. (2013). This question gave me activities that could be helpful to parents and useful. Some activities that parents can do to be more involved with their children academically is to: Do homework assignment with their child Check over school work done daily in class Read to their child daily Talk to their child about their day Communicate with teachers on child's progress and development Parents can volunteer at their child's school Parents can also participate in classroom activities and functioning Talk with teachers regularly.

9. 3. What strategies can we use as teachers to help break the cycles and excuses used for non-parent involvement? Most of this entire question was relevant and helpful because as we all know that in life their obstacles and lots of things that we have to do on a daily basis with a little amount of time to do it. Parents are very busy and may not have time to help their children every day or every night. So I ask this question to first get some of the variables, barriers and excuses parents use and then to come up with strategies to help them work it all out. Some of the excuses parents use and the solutions are listed below: 1.Work Schedule- Take 15 minutes a day or night to go over work and homework assignments 2.No Time-Talk to your child daily about their school life, and talk briefly with teachers as you pick up and drop off your child 3.No Educational Background- Parents can use internet resources, team up with other parents and communicate with teachers about school and educational activities.

11. MY ACTION PLAN FAMILY ACTIVITY The families enjoyed participating in the family activities, and once they got started the time passed by and it wasn’t time- consuming. As a result of these family activities parents begin working with their children for short little periods of time and gradually begin not focusing on the time but focusing on the interactions and involvement that they were having with their child. My students progressed greatly and their academic levels went up.

12. MODIFICATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS As a part of my solution to my Action Research plan I proposed that we gave the families weekly activities to do at home like family activity sheets to do for at least 15 minute s a day with their child. As I think about my plan, I could extend and modify my research plan by having the families to choose activities that they like, to do at the school and in the classroom with us weekly; ensuring and showing the parents that we are a school family. I feel that parent involvement is important and when children see their parents working and involved in their classroom that gives them a sense of security and comfort, the y want to do their work and show their parents and teachers that they can do good. I feel that the families would like to do the activities and share their ideas with the school and teachers. This activity will also help parents to understand the importance of parent involvement on their child’s academic development and achievements.

13. THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT TO THE SCHOOL AND STUDENTS It is important for families and schools to communicate and work together, because this helps to teach the children, better motivate them and guide them to success. "Communication between families and schools may promote social adjustment in addition to academic achievement “(Gonzalez, 2013). I feel that when the school administrators communicate with the parents, the parents are able to understand the school policies and procedures that are necessary for the academic success of the child. The school's administrator plays a key role in creating a school culture where parent involvement is not only accepted but valued”(Young, Austin, & Growe, 2013). Therefore parents will be able to understand that they can be more involved in the school and with their child. When the parents are apart of their child education, the child feels that they are important and they know that their education must be important as well. Also parents who work with their children at home are more academically successful than ones that don’t.

14. THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT TO THE TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PRACTITIONERS TO BECOME RESEARCHERS OF THEIR OWN PRACTICES “The key element in the kind of parent involvement that benefits children is a sense of partnership between parents and school: an understanding that it takes both to achieve positive outcomes for children” (Farber, & Goldstein,1998). With parent involvement in place everyone is able to look out for the best interest of the child. Overall that is what teachers, school officials and educational practitioners focus on. This study will help educators especially teachers follow their research, better their practice and perfect their craft by instilling in them that their values and their work does matter and that it is for a better cause. Also that when teachers use their own research for good, they are making a big difference in a child's life and helping them to reach their full potential.

15. REFERENCE PAGE Farber, J., & Goldstein, M. (1998). Parents working with speech-language pathologists to foster partnerships in education. Language, Speech & Hearing Services In Schools, 29(1), 24-34. Landrum, R. E. (2013). Research design for educators: Real-world connections and applications. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Mills, G. E. (2014). Action research: A guide for the teacher researcher (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. Gonzalez, L. (2013). PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN'S EDUCATION: CONSIDERATIONS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS WORKING WITH LATINO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. Professional School Counseling, 16(3), 185. YOUNG, C. Y., AUSTIN, S. M., & GROWE, R. (2013). DEFINING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT: PERCEPTION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. Education, 133(3), 291-297.