Week 2 Reflection

This week has been both stressful and enlightening for me.  The word research intimidates me and I have had a difficult time finding a topic to call my "Action Research Project".  I am very passionate about special education and wanted to choose a meaningful topic within its' realm. 

 I began this week with a topic in mind that I felt would have productive outcomes for my students.  After the the web conference, I realized the topic I had chosen was much too large and I need to focus on a smaller piece.  I spent time trying to find topics that I was interested in and had already been researched in the area of mainstream learning, but was unsuccessful.  I also met with my site supervisor and special education director to discuss topics.  During my first meeting with them, I still did not have a specific topic that I was passionate about.  I then went back to my original idea and began to look at ways I could break it down and target a specific need.  After a second meeting with the the two administrators I am working with, I decided I would focus on the success of Algebra I students and how pulling them out for content mastery assistance or small group instruction might increase their comprehension of the objectives and ultimately increase their test scores.  Our algebra students have struggled the past few years on the objectives and skills necessary for success on the EOC test.  I want to establish interventions for the special education mainstreamed students to gain confidence and skills to meet state passing requirements.  This study is important in ensuring that the needs of these students are being met properly and to make appropriate adjustments to increase the learners success.

I am both nervous and excited to get started.  Although, I am still a bit apprehensive about this project and know that I will be making changes to ensure I have chosen proper wording of what my intentions are,  I know that the knowledge I will gain will help my goal of this project.  I will find ways to help students become more successful in the mainstream classroom. 

 I am still unsure about how to locate literature and research that has already been completed in this area, so if you have suggestions, please let me know.