Research, Research You Are So Fun, 

Research, Research You Should Be Done by Everyone!

OK, I may be an eternal nerd, but the process of completing research has taught me many things, some that just may be applicable to other parts of my life.

It’s tough and sometimes boring: Over the last several months there have been times when I just didn’t want to see that pink highlighter anymore, look at those yellow sticky notes (which are quite expensive here in NZ: $3.99/package), or glance at my pile of articles and books to be read. It seemed like the last 40 pages that I needed to read just lingered (but I did it! I finished the last 40 pages of  "A Third Chance to Learn" while hiding out in bed way too long this morning).

It’s exciting and dynamic: Throughout my two graduate degrees and now researching my capstone project, I have found that reading, questioning, and connecting creates a fervor in me. As I look over all of my readings, the evidence of this excitement is portrayed in multiple underlinings, 10 to 12 exclamation marks after a specific quote, and even an occasional, highly technical, smiley face :) When I can relate to or predict a strategy or outcome (and then when my thoughts are affirmed in the text), that’s when I feel my eyes pop-out-of-my-head and a smile melts across my face. 

It provides eye-opening realizations: I knew I had a passion about teaching youngsters to become literate. I felt the above mentioned happiness during my undergraduate and graduate years as I read course textbooks regarding this topic (again, self-proclaimed nerd). Recently, I was reading about management, creating a positive culture in schools, collaboration, and leadership, and I, again, felt that positive energy. This leads me to questions about my career path, what I am passionate about, and where I see my professional path leading…(PhD, leadership, curriculum work…)

It provides reflection: As I read, read, read, and observed, observed, observed, I also was able to reflect, reflect, reflect. I quietly pondered my own professionalism. Do I provide that support to students? Do I help to create a positive working environment? Do I have high expectations for my students?  Am I that kind of teacher and professional? How will I improve this come September? This provided a nonjudgemental way of individualized professional development. I didn’t need to discuss these questions or my own very blunt answers with anyone. I came to the realization of what I need to do differently and completing this research allowed me to really look at myself and know how to make changes. I also believe this is critical to becoming a better, more refined professional and overall person. 

It’s a never-ending web: My initial inquiry question seemed straightforward, in a nutshell: “What do New Zealand teachers and administrators do when students are not achieving to the appropriate early literacy levels? What is the process of intervention? What support is given to teachers? What strategies are implemented?” While that seemed pretty direct, I came to discover many other aspects of New Zealand schools and started to look at those areas, thus the pile of reading and data grew. I went from the above questions to wondering about teacher collaboration, administrative support in creating a trusting collaborative environment, teacher expectations, differentiation, and even to looking at the history of the New Zealand educational system! As you can imagine my apartment is now labeled and piled with journals and articles on each of those topics. 

Accomplished, But Now What? So I’m feeling good! I spent countless hours reading countless pages, dried up my highlighter and went through several packages of sticky notes. I have compiled more piles, broken down articles, journals, and books into subgroups, labeled everything, copied books, listened to lectures and interviewed gurus, teachers, principals, specialists, interventionists, Ministry of Education professionals, university professors, and curriculum leaders, BUT WAIT! What am I supposed to do now?

While it is quite scary to be at this stage, I am also extremely interested and excited to see where all of this work is going to lead me. I just have to trust that it will all come together and something good and meaningful will come of it; sort of like this little thing called life- I’m not sure where’s it’s going, but I’m trying to make it as meaningful as possible.