After meeting with my site supervisors, my research plan completely changed direction towards a new topic that was more relevant to what was happening on our campus. While this has been more work for me now, in that I had to start over, I really feel that the change will benefit me in the long run. My new topic of interest is the implementation of a campus-wide Positive Behavior Intervention System and how it affects the methods elementary teachers use regarding student discipline in their classrooms. We are also looking at, if it is effective in increasing positive behavior in students in the classroom, as well as other areas of the school. My final plan follows:
Purpose
In the ever evolving world of education, it is important to understand the most effective way to increase positive behavior. As corporal punishment becomes more obsolete, the different methods used to discipline students, has moved to the forefront of education. While there is no ‘fix all’ method, where all students do exactly what is expected of them, a new movement of reinforcing positive behavior is taking over. A Positive Behavior Intervention System can be used individually by teachers, or as a campus-wide effort to improve student behavior. For the implementation of this new program to be successful campus-wide, it is vital to understand and evaluate the views and beliefs of teachers.
Wondering
Does the implementation of a Positive Behavior Intervention System have an effect on the methods elementary teachers use regarding student discipline in their classrooms, and is it effective in increasing positive behavior in their students?
Questions for Research
1. What are the discipline methods currently used by teachers on our campus?
2. Does the implementation of a PBIS change how teachers view the support received from administration?
3. Are the effects of implementing a campus-wide behavior system evident in the relationships of students? (i.e. student/teacher, student/student, student/parent)
4. Has the implementation of a Positive Behavior System decreased the number of discipline referrals to the office?
Data Collection Methods
• Survey and/or interview teachers three times throughout the year
• Interview and/or survey parents twice a year on the behaviors of their child at home
• Observe classrooms and other areas of school for expected behaviors
• Obtain discipline referrals numbers from 2009-2010 and 2010-2011
• Collect relevant literature and research previously completed on this subject
Data Analysis
With the help of our current principal, I will form a behavior committee to assist with data analysis. Teachers will be asked to answer questions using SurveyMonkey at three times throughout the year to determine their views on discipline and the effects of implementing a PBIS. We will also take a poll to see what discipline methods teachers are using at the beginning and end of the year. We will use this to determine if the implementation of this program affected how teachers discipline their students in the classroom. We will also use field notes taken during observation times and discuss any positive or negative behaviors seem in the students to determine the program’s effectiveness. At the end of the year, we will compare the 2009-2010 number of discipline referrals to the office to the 2010-2011 number of referrals for improvement. As an ongoing data analysis, we will continue to search relevant literature to find ways to improve our implementation of this program.
Implementing/Monitoring Timeline
Although our inquiry will be ongoing, the initial project will start in August 2010 and continue through August 2011. A presentation of the information gained through this research will be given to district administration at the beginning of August 2011. A professional development seminar will then be schedule to review the research with faculty and train faculty on the new Positive Behavior Intervention System. The behavior committee will continue to monitor and assess how effectively we are implementing the behavior system, and determine if any modifications need to be made.
Proposed Timeline:
• August: Meet with behavior committee to review behavior/consequence matrix and determine the best way to introduce new program to teachers and students, Present program to teachers during in-service week, Survey teachers on current discipline views
• Late August: Introduce students to program through weekly campus gatherings with reinforcement in morning meetings
• September: Gather baseline data, Survey parents about their child’s behavior, collect 2009-2010 discipline referral numbers, Observe behaviors of students
• November: Continue to analyze data, Observe classroom, Observe general areas for behavior improvement, Meet with behavior committee
• January: Repeat survey on teachers, Observe classrooms and general areas for behavior improvement
• April/May: Interview teachers on any changes seen in student behavior and their discipline views, survey students, observe classrooms and general areas, gather 2010-2011 discipline referrals
• June/July: Analyze data gathered, Compare discipline referrals, compare BOY and MOY surveys to EOY surveys, etc
• August: Present results of Action Research Plan to Administration, schedule professional development for faculty on findings of research
