Section 1: Academic Achievement - National Center for School ...

assessments in the math folders, but now I wanted a more formal way of seeing what students
could do with English as it related to math. So, I appealed to our Priority Schools office for
the funds to purchase Calendar Math from Great Source, Inc. The Calendar Math program
proved to be an ingenious way of getting students to practice foundational basic skills while
building community and vocabulary. The kit comes with a calendar, which students visit
each day for about 5 to 10 minutes. Calendars give students an opportunity to discuss
patterns, money, time, holidays, birthdays, and other events that relate directly to math and
real life. There are pre and post assessments in English that are linked to standards. As the
students completed the tests, I created a chart with the standards on one side and their
proficiency level on the other side. I then shared the data with them. We discussed the data
through student-teacher conferences, and they highlighted two to three areas in which they
felt they could achieve proficiency by the next scheduled testing. Students wrote out their
goals, and we posted them. They enjoyed the time with me to discuss their progress, and I
benefited greatly from listening to them talk about their strengths and weaknesses in math or
in some cases language acquisition. Some of my students knew the math but were stymied by
the language.
What evidence did I have that my research was effective?
Homeless and highly mobile students are quickly identified for the Title services they are
automatically entitled to receive. I have collaborated with the staff to ensure mutual
understanding of the FERPA regulations with respect to Title funding. Our newly hired
principal, who will begin his first year with us in the fall, will have a staff meeting early in the
year to address McKinney Vento and Title Funding/Services requirements so that no child is
left without the services he needs. Eighty percent of my homeless and highly mobile students
passed out of the Richardson Assessments, which is one of the most significant qualifiers for
entry into the Title Math program. Students effectively use word walls to elucidate their
explanations of math problems. Classroom teachers remarked on their increased engagement
during math in the spring compared to the fall and winter. As a result of my research, our
staff talks about data and assessments in more meaningful ways -- how the data is used and
how it impacts student achievement. Personally, I have grown in my capacity as an educator
through my willingness to admit my limitations and seek collaboration in the interest of all
our students.
Action Research to Study Homelessness and High Mobility in School Communities 75