Collaborative Action Research Project

1. CARP: School Wide
Discovery Zones
Hollywood Elementary School
Amanda, Rachel, & Lela

2. What would the Discovery
Zones promote?
• SIP Goal: All students will be educated in learning
environments that are safe, drug free, and
conducive to learning.
o Discovery Zones will be a way to promote
learning within our three classes (5th, 3rd, & 1st
grade).

3. Implementation of Discovery
Zones
• DZs introduced early
• DZ rules
 Level completion (colors)
 DZ relation to behavior
 80% or better to move on
 Personal & classroom
incentive rules
• Interns…
o Collected DZ worksheets
o Awarded incentives

4. DZ Observation Guidelines
• Teacher Pre/Post-Questionnaires
o Pre-Questionnaire
 Types of aversive behaviors
 Number of weekly referrals
o Post-Questionnaire
• Student Teacher Observations
o Behaviors Observed
o Card Flips
o Incentives

5. Discovery Zone Activities
• Create learning community within classroom
• Appropriate activities per each grade level (grades
1, 3, & 5)
• Students completed an activity from each station
o Green, yellow, red levels
o Grammar, reading, & math
o MSA practice activities

6. Research Questions
• Does the implementation of Discovery Zones
increase positive student behavior?
o Including self-regulation of behavior
• Does the implementation of Discovery Zones
increase the students' completion of
assignments?

7. Data Collection Plan

8. Pre-post Assessment Items
• Materials
o Student worksheets
o Manila folders for leveled activities
• Assessment Items
o Teacher questionnaire pre & post

12. Intern Observations 1st Grade
• Excited about personal and class incentives.
• Same students participated consistently.
• Limitations
o Required teacher assistance.
o After implementation, a student was
removed permanently from the classroom
for behavior issues.

13. Intern Observations
3rd Grade
• Enthusiasm in week 1
o Asked when they can do more
o Comments: "they are fun"
• Same group of early finishers participating
o Non-behavior problem students
• Limitations
o Choice activities for early finishers
o Assessments during week 2

14. Intern Observations 5th
Grade
• Extreme interest
• Asked to take worksheets home during weekends
• Classroom incentive gained/individual incentives
• Self-regulation
• Limitations:
o Students who did not participate had
Individualized Education Plans

15. Other Findings
• DZs more effective at upper-intermediate level
o Reduction in aversive behaviors
o Reduction in Card Flips
• Possible successful implementation of DZs in lower
grades w/ changes
• Non-worksheet based
• Younger grades have a packed day, and DZs
required explanation

16. Overall Limitations
• Plan to implement DZs throughout the whole
school
• Mode of activity delivery
• Students not having enough free time

17. Research Question 1:
Does the implementation of Discovery Zones increase
positive student behavior?
Research Question 2:
Does the implementation of Discovery Zones increase
the students' completion of assignments?
• Evidence found in 5th grade class
• No change in 3rd and 1st grade classes
– Same students completing DZ activities

18. Where do we go from here?
• Future applications with:
o School year long extension activities
o Students who are gifted/talented or usually
have down time
o Change the type of activities within the DZs
for first grade

19. Final thoughts on Discovery
Zones
• DZs more appropriate in upper grades
– Modifications in the lower grades
– Implementation with centers