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Board approves two teacher action‑research projects on mindfulness and student‑led morning meetings
Summary
The Onalaska School District board on March 24 approved action‑research projects from Kaley Olson (third‑grade teacher) studying daily mindfulness and Abby Voss (first‑grade teacher) studying student‑led morning meetings; both projects will collect pre/post data and aim to inform district classroom practice.
The Onalaska School District Board of Education on March 24 approved two teacher action‑research projects proposed by district classroom teachers pursuing graduate work.
Kaley Olson, a third‑grade teacher at Eagle Bluff and a Professional Studies and Education master’s student at University of Wisconsin‑La Crosse, asked the board to approve a study of daily mindfulness practices in her classroom to measure effects on students’ emotional‑regulation skills. "Mindfulness is just being present in the moment, awareness and attention to thoughts, feelings, and surroundings," Olson said while outlining planned activities such as journaling, mindful breathing and sensory exercises and describing a mix of teacher ratings and student self‑assessments for data collection.
The board framed the approvals as aligned with district priorities for social‑emotional learning. "Student engagement, growth and achievement is a current pillar of our focus for the district," Olson told members, and she said the project would be structured so it does not remove core instructional time.
Abby Voss, a first‑grade teacher at Northern Hills and also a UWL graduate student, proposed a companion project testing whether students’ involvement in planning and leading morning meetings increases engagement and leadership skills. "Morning meetings in the classroom provide students with a sense of belonging, community, and safety," Voss said, and described using pre‑ and post‑surveys, daily observations and small‑group discussions to limit bias.
Board members moved and approved each project on voice votes. Motion to approve Olson’s project was made by Tracy and seconded by Sean; the board voted in favor. A separate motion by Tracy, seconded by Sean, approved Voss’s proposal.
The teachers said collected data will be limited to students with parental permission and that names will be omitted from research papers. Board members said they looked forward to receiving results and to the potential of scaling promising practices districtwide.
