This accessible, pragmatic text shows educators step by step how to conduct classroom- and school-based studies to improve instructional practices. The book presents methods and strategies for implementing each stage of the action research cycle, providing balanced coverage of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Readers learn how to: select and define a research topic; develop a literature review; choose a design; formulate data collection strategies; design and/or evaluate assessment tools; and interpret, analyze, and report study results. Helpful examples and vignettes depict a variety of real-world teaching and learning situations, school subjects, and age groups (PreK/n-/12). Pedagogical features include: exercises and activities in every chapter checklists, guidelines, and templates that enable busy educators to self-assess the progress and quality of their studies example boxes illustrating the components of an action research report summary tables highlighting key aspects of different research strategies chapter summaries and suggestions for further reading.