Writing Prompts for Classroom Action Researchers
Madison Metropolitan School District
Writing Prompts for Classroom Action
Researchers
September
Begin by visualizing what an observer might sense as they shadow you as you
go about your work: the physical environment (sights, sounds, smells, arrangement
of furniture, what hangs on the walls, from the ceilings); the interactions
among individuals in the setting (students, teachers, administrators, support
staff, and parents); and the activities (what are people doing.) Write
about this now, and then revisit the vision of your work environment later
in the year.
October
Write a story about an event or circumstance that illustrates the
issue(s) you are interested in studying.
November
What question(s) would you have to answer to understand your issue better?
December
How do you get at the "real" issue that interests you, how do you peel back
the layers to reveal the root causes of the condition/circumstance/situation
you would like to change or better understand?
January
Think about the kids of "evidence" that convince you that something is
working...then answer: What data do I currently have about my students?
What feedback do I have from parents, administrators, and others which
will influence my thinking? Where are the gaps? What do I do
with the data?
February
How can I use the data I've collected to better understand my question? My
issue? What do I do with the data?
March
What have I learned from the data I collected after reading through it, rereading
it, looking for patterns, themes, curiosities?
April
How can I tell my story, what I have learned, to others? What parts
do I leave in? What do I leave out? What form should I take?
Who are the others who might/should/could see what I have written?
May
Revisiting September's writing...what would an observer sense as they shadow
you going about your work...the physical environment, the interactions among
individuals and the activities. Compare this with your September entry.
How has the vision changed? How is it the same?
Other
What is the action in your action research?
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since March 2001
Last Updated: March 5, 2001
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