How can educational leaders use blogs?

       There are many benefits for educational leaders when we blog. One is the art and practice of getting all our thoughts out of our head onto "paper." We can then go back to remember and analyze any thoughts that might get lost behind the day to day tasks and pressures of being an educational leader. Another, and in my opinion more important, way leaders use blogs is to create a support group by linking blogs together. Ideas and opinions can be shared, points of view can connect leaders, and leaders can share their successes and failures in order to enhance the actions of one another.

What is action research?

     Action research is a process in which a professional can study themselves in an effort to make a change that will lead to improvement. One must analyze an area which needs improvement by inquiring of themselves what can be done to fix the situation. Through literature review, peer discussion, and other's successful, one can develop a plan which will bring about change-hopefully dissolving the current problem. Self evaluation is a must. One must inquire what they can do in order to bring about successful change. Inquiry is intentional and data based. Once a plan is made, it must be put into action. The results of the action must then be evaluated and analyzed to gather information of whether a positive or negative change is occurring.
     One way I can use action research as a teacher and aspiring administrator is ask myself "What can I do to make my students be more successful?" That is after all my purpose and calling as a teacher. Teachers and leaders can use action research daily, but I will be specifically researching the idea of parental involvement. What can I as a teacher do to further parental involvement in my classroom and how can this make my students more successful?