Getting Started With My Action Research Project

Well it seems to be a crazy start to the school year, but nevertheless my action research plan is underway.  My plan seemed to get a slow start because of a lack of information on different methods for the memorization of math facts.  I spent numerous hours this summer researching brain theories that are related to the memorization of math facts.  It was extremely hard to find any programs that were specifically focused on the mathematical operations.  I ended up combining strategies from different sources as well as using some techniques that are not specified for math, but are best brain practices for memorization in general.  Once school started I used a free computer program that has timed fact practice in order to assess the current fact fluency of all of my classes.  After the pre-assessment, I looked at the data and the classroom demographics to determine which two rooms I would use for my action research project.  I have a very large number of special education students this year so that was one of the biggest considerations on what classrooms to use.  I determined that I will use my first period and second period classes.  For the first five weeks all of my students have been receiving fact practice each day in the form of Flash Masters.  These are hand-held games that give the students nine seconds to answer a particular multiplication problem.  During the second six weeks we will continue fact practice with the Flash Master and computer games, but my first period class will start receiving additional fact practice that is based off of the brain research.  Every two weeks the students will be reassessed and their scores will be graphed to show improvement trends.