Draft Action Research Plan

Draft Action Research Plan

1. Goal and Objectives/Outcomes of the research investigation:

The 2010-2011 6^th grade students will learn the importance of how to use the internet, social networking and cell phone etiquette properly.

The 2010-2011 6^th grade students will learn of the possible ramifications when not using proper etiquette with the internet, social networking and cell phone use.

The 2010-2011 6^th grade students will learn the importance of “Making Wise Choices” in their personal and academic lives.

2. Activities designed to achieve the objectives:

1.The 10 lessons from the Worth the Wait Curriculum: 

a.    Positive Personal Character Traits and Emotional Needs

b.    What’s Puberty?

c.       Anatomy/Puberty Review

d.    Pregnancy and STDs

e.    The Benefits of Waiting

f.        Healthy Relationships with Family and Peers

g.    Not Thank You!  Mastering Refusal Skills

h.    Media and Its Influence

i.         Sexual Abuse

j.         I’m Worth It

k.      After each one of the above lessons, the students will take home a paper that has 2-3 questions specific to the lessons.  The students are to ask these questions of their parent(s) or guardian and then write their answers.  The plan is for each student to bring these back with signatures and the comments.

2. Toothpaste Activity!  In this activity, the students will have a piece of colored construction paper and a small tube of toothpaste (travel size).  The students will be in small groups.  As we discuss the importance of (being careful with what we say, type, put on social networks (facebook, myspace, etc.), pictures sent through text messaging, words over text, etc.) what we say and do and how it can “hurt others”, the students will “squirt” a small amount of toothpaste on the construction paper.  We will then discuss “taking it back”, and the students will use a craft stick and try to put the toothpaste back into the tube.  It is impossible to put toothpaste back into the tube, just like it is impossible to take back what we say and do!  (Activity idea given to me by Margie Faulkner, 6^th grade teacher CCES)

3. We will look at articles that show “bullying, cyber-bullying, text messaging and sexting, and so on.  These articles will help the students look into how it can really hurt the victim and the antagonist(s).
4. We will look at actual “budgets” from people who have young babies and children in their homes.  The information is coming from teachers on my campus.  These teachers have 2 income families and they include small children who are healthy and some who have had emergency surgeries.  This information will also include how much necessary objects (diapers, formula, doctors, etc.) cost. 
5. We will Role-Play “making a good choice.”

3. Resources and research tools needed for data gathering:

A.    Worth the Wait Curriculum – developed by Scott & White Sex Education Program/Scott & White Memorial Hospital and Clinic

B.    Activity provided by Margie Faulkner (6^th grade science teacher CCES)

C.   Articles from magazines and the Internet

D.   Budget and Money information from the Staff of Curington Elementary

E.    Up to date data concerning the above situations from the State of Texas

4. Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities:

Nov. 29, 2010:  Letter sent home to parents

Dec. 7, 2010:  Parent night to come and view the curriculum and have a question and answer time.

Dec. 10, 2010:  Permission deadline

Dec. 13, 2010:  Lessons begin

Dec. 20-Jan. 4:  Christmas Break

Jan. 8, 2011:  Final Lesson

Jan. 9 & 10, 2010:  End of Lessons Survey

The above dates are for the 2010-2011 6^th grade students.  I will have an “Open Lunch Time” for students who may need to “talk” about any situations or issues for the rest of the school year.  Possible end of school year survey.  Also, possibly survey former students who went through this curriculum with me 1 and 2 years ago, to see if they felt that this was helpful for them with decision making.

5. Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan:

The Boerne Independent School District adopted the Worth the Wait curriculum during the school year of 2007-2008.  We implemented the first lessons beginning the Spring of 2008. 

I, Mary Beth Cuevas, and our PE teacher, Mary Meckel, have been the instructors for the entire time at Curington Elementary.  I teach all of the lessons, but when we split the boys and girls for 3 lessons, I teach the girls and Mary teaches the boys.

6. Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives:

I give a pre-test and a post-test.  I will be adding a student survey and possibly a parent survey.  If possible I will survey students from 1 and 2 years ago.

7. Assessment instruments to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study:

I plan to put together a survey.  The information from these surveys will be shared with the campus administration and with the district administration.  This will hopefully give us the kind of information we need to help our students learn how to “help themselves” for their personal and academic lives.