This paper describes how master's degree students in a principal preparation program facilitated action research with teachers to promote school improvement. The study identified effective strategies used with teachers during classroom action research, noting instructional strategies future principals considered most effective during the learning…

This study describes a program for improving the feedback of student achievement to parents, teachers, and administrators through the use of alternative forms of assessment. The targeted population consisted of students in three Midwestern unit school districts: two kindergarten classes and fifth and sixth graders in a combined class. Data from…

This report describes a project for improving reading comprehension through the use of multiple intelligences. The action research took place from September 2001 to January 2002. The targeted population consisted of fourth grade students living in two suburbs of a major metropolitan city. The two communities range from low income to upper middle…

The distinction between first-order and second-order research in action research is explored in the context of work on the Management for Organizational and Human Development (MOHD) project in Italy. Researchers worked with two groups of heads of primary schools in Italy to develop a path of reflection and research on their roles and functions and…

This action research project describes a program for improving student comprehension of mathematical vocabulary. The targeted population consisted of two classes of fifth grade students from two elementary schools located in the suburbs of a large metropolitan area in Illinois. The problem of poor mathematical vocabulary was documented through…

This report describes a program for increasing reading fluency through the implementation of several reading interventions. The elementary students of the two targeted regular education classes and the one mild-moderately impaired program exhibit difficulty in reading fluently, which impedes them from becoming independent learners. Evidence for…

This report describes a program for increasing student reading comprehension. The targeted population consisted of seventh grade students in a growing middle class community located in Illinois. The problem of low reading comprehension was documented through teacher, student, and parent surveys. In addition, reading interest inventories, and…

This project describes a program for increasing student retention and transfer of weekly spelling words across the curriculum. The targeted population consists of first, second, and third grade students in a middle class community located in the Northeast quadrant of Illinois. The problems of adequate transfer of previously taught spelling skills…

Students individually need to experience success in reading, be it a systematic approach in phonics or in whole language procedures. Quality action research, conducted within the local school/school system, needs to be conducted to notice which of these two procedures of reading instruction best meets student needs. Each student needs to achieve…

This paper reports on research-in-progress motivated by the need to educate Visual Aesthetic Education (VAE) teachers. The research asks, how VAE teachers can find a referential to orient their pupils' work in this time of aesthetic controversy and technological/economic pressures and do this adequately for a class of 30 pupils. The paper…

This action research report describes a program to improve and enhance students' social skills in and out of the classroom. The targeted population consisted of two fourth grade classrooms at two different suburban sites. The need to address this issue seems to have grown due to an increase in school violence and the decline of the traditional…

This bulletin describes the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's efforts to fight juvenile gun violence. The Office awarded four community demonstration grants to implement "Partnerships To Reduce Juvenile Gun Violence." Partnership goals include increasing the effectiveness of existing strategies by enhancing and…

This guide introduces the skills and dispositions necessary to participate in educational action research. It targets teachers, administrators, college faculty, graduate students, state professional organizations, and state administrators. Chapter 1, "Understanding Action Research as a Tool for Professional Growth and Organizational Development,"…

This paper describes partnerships created by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) that were designed to facilitate school improvement through collaborative action research. After analysis of these partnership experiences, several recommendations were developed for creating and sustaining effective partnerships between research…

This museum study advances knowledge on science teacher learning that takes place outside of the formal institution or college and describes the types of collaboration and resource sharing that are required to do so. A case study documents a "curriculum for teachers" initiative that evolved out of current science education reform. It highlights a…