Goal/Guiding Question:
What effect will involvement in an after school intervention
program have on attendance, GPA, and behavior among at-risk students?
- Will students feel more
connected to the school and community?
- Will students’ self perception change as their skills improve and relationships deepen?
Community Garden
Main Idea: Using community efforts and expertise as an
intervention for at risk students. Through implementing a new community
garden for students to raise food for the nearby food pantry I will collect
data that shows the effects of such programs on student behavior, attendance,
and GPA.
Action Steps Person(s) Timeline: Necessary Evaluation
Responsible Start/End Resources
|
Initiate Community
Garden
|
Brian Rushing,
Julie Farris,
Nick Helge, David Thomas, GeriAnne Carrales
|
March 2013 – Summer 2013
|
Garden Site at Helping Hands
Teacher/
Community
Volunteers
Fence materials and seeds
|
Actual Produce donated to Helping Hands
|
|
Entrance/Exit
Program Survey
|
Brian Rushing
Steven Davis
|
March 2013 – May 2013
|
Surveys gauging student opinions of school and self
|
Entrance/Exit Program Survey
|
|
Measure any shift in
attendance
trends
|
Brian Rushing
Steven Davis
|
March 2013 – May 2013
|
Attendance records for months preceding and coinciding
intervention
|
Attendance records for months preceding and coinciding
intervention
|
|
Measure any change in
GPA trends
|
Brian Rushing
Steven Davis
|
March 2013 – May 2013
|
GPA records for months preceding and coinciding intervention
|
GPA records for months preceding and coinciding
intervention
|
|
Measure any change in
behavior
trends
|
Brian Rushing
Steven Davis
|
March 2013 – May 2013
|
Referral rates/Qualitative field notes for months
preceding and coinciding intervention
|
Referral rates/Qualitative field notes for months
preceding and coinciding intervention
|
|
Gauge value of program among share holders
|
Brian Rushing
|
May 2013
|
Note taking
|
Student and Teacher Interviews
|
|
Sharing findings, program, and evidence
|
Brian Rushing
|
May 2013
|
Blog
Digital Pictures
Video
|
Final presentation shared through teacher blog, power
point, and wiki
|
This action research project looks really exciting. There is a district in our region that is also getting involved with the creation of a community garden in order to promote school attendance. I am wondering if you are at the same school district??? I can tell from your posts that you are so incredibly passionate about what you do. I know that your students will greatly benefit from the research you are doing! Good luck to you! I look forward to following your progress!!!
ReplyDeleteI am in Rockwall ISD and there are three other schools involved in community gardens on their campuses. We will be the first high school in our district to get one started.
DeleteI love the idea of planting a garden! I think that the garden will end up teaching more than just a gardening skill. Looking at your plan, it is not clear to me how many students will take part in the garden. Are they students that have low GPAs, poor attendance, and behavior issues? How will you select students to participate?
ReplyDeleteI don't see it listed but during the exit process, will students be able to sample the work?
Good luck to you!
Thank you so much for this post! It is very helpful. I will clarify these issues on the draft.
DeleteWhat a great idea Brian! Sometimes The Home Depot is very helpful about donating materials to projects such as yours. That will also further your community involvement aspect by including local businesses.
ReplyDeleteHow about we both agree to post once a week on each others blog?
I think that this is an incredible idea. I think too often so many people in education get caught up in the idea of school only being about numbers and instruction. This could really serve as an important opportunity for students to become invested into something more. What kind of community outreach is being done through this project? I am unfamiliar with the program, but it seems that many local businesses would be interested in investing in something like this. Good luck!
ReplyDelete