Less Talk, More Action: A Guide to Transforming Schools Through Action Research

Think about your classroom or school. How often are you encouraged to identify and solve the learning challenges your students face? To think differently about your instructional practices? To take meaningful risks without fear? If that hasn't happened lately, we invite you to join us on a new kind of learning journey, one built around a simple but powerful process. It's called Action Research, and it gives us, as educators, a way to turn our reflections into results.

Action Research is a systematic process of identifying a challenge, taking action to address it, and reflecting on the results all at the same time. Unlike clinical research, there's no control group. In education, all students are given the opportunity to benefit from the practices an instructor opts to implement. We compare what we see before the practice was implemented to what happens after. Action Research puts the power to improve teaching and learning directly into our hands, bridging the gap between theory and practice by inviting us to investigate in our own classrooms, test ideas, and track what really moves the needle for students.

Endorsements

"Bold, brilliant, and deeply practical! Through humility, curiosity, and compassion, Apsey and Freeland empower educators in all roles to turn reflection into results. This is a tactical guide to naming challenges, taking action, and creating real impact. Essential reading!"-Lainie Rowell, bestselling author, award-winning educator, and international keynote speaker

"Apsey and Freeland cut through theory and provide a road map for sustainable change filled with high-impact, actionable steps that move the needle in schools and districts. Readers will walk away with practical strategies to identify the right challenges, elevate teacher voice, and turn reflection into measurable impact."

-Thomas C. Murray, author and director of innovation at Future Ready Schools, Washington, DC

"With good humor, wit, and thoughtful insights, Apsey and Freeland will reward you with what real research looks like-high impact on students and deep rewards for teachers and leaders. This is a book worthy of study for teachers, administrators, and aspiring educators. It might even persuade you to remain in or join our profession."

-Douglas Reeves, author