Additional Plans and Addressing Challenges

As our campus looks for ways to improve while sustaining instruction that has brought about student success, I plan to incorporate Force Field Analysis, which states that if change is to occur, the forces in favor of change must be greater than the forces opposed to change. (Harris, et al., 2010)

I plan to use this strategy as my research action plan is introduced to the team of Pre-K teachers. I think it will be very important to describe the current situation and ask teachers to rank the percentage of time spent in small group instruction weekly; or the average number of times per week that our students with the most needs receive differentiated instruction. From there we will predict what will happen if there is no change, determine why there is a need for more differentiated instruction and if there are equally important reasons not to provide instruction to small groups of students. Following this, we will determine if change is possible and suggestions for how to fit this into our school day. We will also address reasons why implementing small group instruction is difficult and factors that create resistance to this model of instruction, and we will attempt to address the factors and reduce the resistance.

Comments to my discussion post about differentiated instruction in pre-kindergarten confirmed the research plan. One also noted the issue of time. Differentiated instruction does require more planning time. To assist teachers, I will help with grouping students and identifying their needs based on assessments. I will also offer materials and side by side teaching. Additionally, we will use our Pre-K wiki to post ideas for activities that have been helpful to students. Since students with the most needs require small group instruction every day, I will also be available to work with groups of students in each classroom every week. We will develop a schedule so that teachers know which day I will be in their rooms, and they can work me into their lesson plans. This should help teachers to not only meet the needs of their lowest students, but also have some additional time for other students, as well.