Practical Action Research: A Collection of Articles

Practical Action Research, Second Edition is a compilation of critical commentaries that offer practical steps for understanding and implementing action research. The contributors demonstrate how educators can reflect, collect data, and create alternative ways to improve their practice in the classroom and schoolwide. Through the voices of experts from the field, the book provides concrete examples of how action research can transform educational challenges into solutions. This updated edition includes seven new articles, along with a series of inspiring case studies that demonstrate how action research can be used to improve a variety of school situations.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Editor About the Contributors Part I. Defining Action Research 1. Writers Develop Skills Through Collaboration: An Action Research Approach - Kate Ferguson-Patrick 2. Educational Action Research - Ken Zeichner Part II. Understanding Action Research 3. The Unexpected Journey: Renewing Our Commitment to Students Through Educational Action Research - Helen Meyer, Bennyce Hamilton, Steve Kroeger, Stephanie Stewart, Mary Brydon-Miller 4. Action Research: Three Approaches - Emily F. Calhoun Exemplary Project: The Effectiveness of Spalding Instruction for Spelling Performance - Margo S. O’Neill Exemplary Project: The Business Managers’ Network: Action Research to Improve Business Capacities of Colorado Charter Schools - Lori Grant Exemplary Project: Improving Schoolwide Communication Through a New School Web Site: Responsive Action Research - Heidi Mitchell Part III. Implementing Action Research 5. Creating a School for David: A Principal’s Narrative - Eleanor A. Perry Exemplary Project: Proactive Action Research to Build Leadership for a Charter School’s Success - Lillian Thomas-Wilson Exemplary Project: Examining the Impact of External Building Coaches on Teachers - Betsy Apolito Exemplary Project: Implementing Strategies to Reduce Dropout Rates of At-Risk Youth in an Online Learning Environment - Jill Gaitens 6. Using Action Research to Assess Instruction - Carole Schulte Johnson, Inga Kromann-Kelly Exemplary Project: Singapore Math: Action Research on a Curriculum Change, Student Achievement, and Teacher Efficacy - Barbara J. Darroch Exemplary Project: Increasing Math Achievement of Title 1 Middle School Students - Tatyana Chayka 7. Action Research for School Improvement - Emily F. Calhoun Exemplary Project: Action Research on Middle School Mathematics Instruction Differentiated by Student Gender - Joshua Jordan 8. What Happens When a School District Supports Action Research - Cathy Caro-Bruce, Jennifer McCreadie Exemplary Project: Professional Development as a Tool to Enhance Teacher Quality in Charter Schools - Ricci Rodriquez-Elkins 9. Using Action Research to Solve Instructional Challenges in Inclusive Elementary School Settings - Christine L. Salisbury, Linda L. Wilson, Tabetha J. Swartz, Mary M. Palombaro, Jami Wassel Exemplary Project: Math Fact Memorization in a Highly Sequenced Elementary Mathematics Curriculum - Kelli Kreienkamp 10. Using Action Research as a Collaborative Process to Enhance Educators’ and Families’ Knowledge and Skills for Youth With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders - Douglas Cheney Exemplary Project: Building Blocks to Healthy Emotions: A Parenting Program to Improve the Emotional Health of Low-Income Children - Verree Laughlin 11. Action Research in Action: Curricular Articulation and Integrated Instruction - Douglas E. Arnold Part IV. Studying Action Research Exemplary Project: Initiating a Collaborative Action Research Project: From Choosing a School to Planning the Work on an Issue - Eva Espido Bello Exemplary Project: Self-Reflection in Essay Writing: An Action Research Project - Ronald Bergez 12. Promoting Quality for Teacher Action Research: Lessons Learned From Science Teachers’ Action Research - Brenda M. Capobianco, Allen Feldman 13. Schoolwide Action Research: Findings From Six Years of Study - Lew Allen, Emily F. Calhoun 14. Ecology and Ethics in Participatory Collaborative Action Research: An Argument for the Authentic Participation of Students in Educational Research - Steve Collins Index

About the Author :
Richard A. Schmuck is professor emeritus at the University of Oregon, where he chaired the dissertations of 132 doctoral students who are from all parts of the world. He taught thousands of other educators worldwide about action research, group dynamics, and organization development. He has served on the faculties of the University of Michigan, Temple University, and Leuven University (Belgium), was the first president of the International Association for the Study of Cooperation in Education. Schmuck is a visiting Professor at Arizona State University-West. Schmuck is the author of 20 books and 190 articles. His best-known book is Group Processes in the Classroom (with Patricia Schmuck), now in its eighth edition. He received The Stevens Award from the Northwest Women in Educational Administration to honor his support of women in administration and his "commitment to equity, justice, and democracy." He received the Campbell Lifetime Achievement Award from the University Council on Educational Administration for "superior scholarship, distinguished service, and recognized international leadership" and "to celebrate an extraordinary and generous career." Schmuck continues to teach, consult, and write.

Review :
"Schoolwide renewal and improvement occurs only when a group of dedicated professionals decide to study and reflect on what they are doing and how it affects the students in their school and classrooms. Schmuck provides multiple examples of how school professionals use action research in their quest for improving the school experience for children."