Current Search:   effective schools (x)

View All Items

  • CSV Spreadsheet
(1 - 8 of 8)
Deconstructing Differences in Effectiveness of Reading Teachers of Ninth Grade Non-Proficient Readers in One Florida School District
Title
Deconstructing Differences in Effectiveness of Reading Teachers of Ninth Grade Non-Proficient Readers in One Florida School District.
Creator
Wysong, Jason, Taylor, Rosemarye, Murray, Barbara, Baldwin, Gordon, Doherty, Walter, Zugelder, Bryan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to identify specific instructional and professional differences between the most effective and least effective teachers of ninth grade students enrolled in intensive reading courses in one Florida school district. Teachers from eleven schools were invited to complete a survey that included categorical, Likert, and open-ended response items. Principals and assistant principals at these schools were also invited to complete a similar survey. Teacher...
Show moreABSTRACT This study was undertaken to identify specific instructional and professional differences between the most effective and least effective teachers of ninth grade students enrolled in intensive reading courses in one Florida school district. Teachers from eleven schools were invited to complete a survey that included categorical, Likert, and open-ended response items. Principals and assistant principals at these schools were also invited to complete a similar survey. Teacher respondents were then divided into three effectiveness groups based on the percentage of their students who met 2011-2012 FCAT performance targets established by Florida's value-added learning growth model. Inferential statistics were used to identify specific attributes that differed among the most and least effective teachers. These attributes included years of classroom teaching experience, status of Florida Reading Endorsement, belief in collaboration with others as a source of effectiveness, valuation of classroom strategies including teaching students to self-monitor their progress and cooperative learning activities, and frequency of use of reading strategies including sustained silent reading and paired/partner student readings. School administrators and the most effective classroom teachers reported similar beliefs about valuation and frequency of use of the four aforementioned classroom strategies. Analysis of responses to open-ended response items resulted in the identification of three instructional themes(-)importance of building positive relationships with students, student practice, and student self-reflection(-)and three resource needs(-)increased access to technology, print resources, and professional learning.
Show less
Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0004963, ucf:49571
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004963
Deconstructing Differences in Effectiveness of Teachers of Tenth Grade Non-Proficient Readers in One Florida School District
Title
Deconstructing Differences in Effectiveness of Teachers of Tenth Grade Non-Proficient Readers in One Florida School District.
Creator
Williams, Mary, Taylor, Rosemarye, Doherty, Walter, Murray, Barbara, Baldwin, Gordon, Zugelder, Bryan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Despite an intense focus and considerable financial commitment to remediate non-proficient readers in high school, the large suburban school district that was the target of this study had been unable to consistently improve student achievement in the lowest 25% of students as measured by outcomes on the FCAT Reading. Scholarly literature on high school reading had focused mostly on evaluation of curriculum rather than on teacher practices. A clear understanding of these differences in...
Show moreDespite an intense focus and considerable financial commitment to remediate non-proficient readers in high school, the large suburban school district that was the target of this study had been unable to consistently improve student achievement in the lowest 25% of students as measured by outcomes on the FCAT Reading. Scholarly literature on high school reading had focused mostly on evaluation of curriculum rather than on teacher practices. A clear understanding of these differences in practice will inform future decisions related to staffing, scheduling, and professional learning. This study sought to identify the underlying professional and instructional differences between the most effective and least effective teachers of tenth grade intensive reading courses through teacher and principal/assistant principal surveys along with teacher evaluation data. This study revealed with regards to a teacher's preparation to teach reading (research question one), that years of experience in the classroom and years of experience as a high school reading teacher were the only significant factors that influenced a teacher's effectiveness. For research questions two and three; which had to do with the beliefs and professional practices of the teacher, the educationally relevant belief that the more effective teachers were more confident about their abilities than their less effective peers was noted. Research question four provided the data with regards to the general classroom teaching strategies and the adolescent reading strategies the effective teachers employed. This data revealed that the more effective teachers implemented posting and communicating daily and long term learning goals more frequently than their less effective peers. In addition, the general classroom teaching practices of efficient use of learning time, establishing and maintaining classroom routines, and checking for understanding proved to be educationally relevant. Additionally, the adolescent reading strategies of sustained silent reading, paired/partner readings, and students reading one-on-one with teacher, were educationally relevant as well. Finally, in regards to research question five, it was of statistical significance that administrators valued the use of the general classroom teaching strategy of posting and communicating daily and long term learning goals and were able to recognize the use of this strategy when observing and evaluating the teachers.?
Show less
Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0004960, ucf:49573
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004960
A Study of a Third Grade Summer Reading Camp: Its Promotion of Student Achievement and Its Cost Effectiveness
Title
A Study of a Third Grade Summer Reading Camp: Its Promotion of Student Achievement and Its Cost Effectiveness.
Creator
Bixler, Krista, Murray, Barbara, Murray, Kenneth, Taylor, Rosemarye, Baldwin, Gordon, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate and long term impact of participation in the 2009 Third Grade Summer Reading Camp, as well as determine the cost-effectiveness of providing this program in comparison to the cost-effectiveness of other reading interventions as identified by Yeh (2010). All students in this study scored an achievement level one on the 2009 FCAT Reading assessment and either attended the summer reading camp or received a good cause exemption for promotion...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine the immediate and long term impact of participation in the 2009 Third Grade Summer Reading Camp, as well as determine the cost-effectiveness of providing this program in comparison to the cost-effectiveness of other reading interventions as identified by Yeh (2010). All students in this study scored an achievement level one on the 2009 FCAT Reading assessment and either attended the summer reading camp or received a good cause exemption for promotion to the next grade level. Data was not available to determine immediate impact of summer school. To determine long term impact of summer school participation, 130 students who attended the program and passed were compared to a random sample of 130 students who received another good cause exemption. Results of an independent t-test indicated students who passed summer school by performing at or above the 50th percentile on the alternative assessment outperformed students who received another good cause exemption on the 2010 FCAT Reading assessment, t(258) = -9.50, p = .000, effect size r = 0.51,and 2011 FCAT Reading assessment, t(258) = -7.43, p = .000, effect size r = 0.42. Ninety percent of students who attended summer school and passed the alternative assessment for promotion made learning gains on the following year's FCAT Reading assessment; however, the majority of students performed below grade level on the 2010 and 2011 FCAT Reading assessment. Based on school district records for the cost of salaries, benefits, transportation, materials, and supplies, the total cost of summer school was calculated and adjusted for inflation to 2006 dollars so a comparison could be made to Yeh's (2010) cost-effectiveness analysis of summer school and other reading interventions that annualized the cost to 2006 dollars. The adjusted cost for the 2009 summer reading program was calculated at $872,681.23. Using this number and dividing by the total number of summer school student, which were 3,012 students, the cost per student annualized to 2006 was $289.74. Data to determine the immediate impact of summer school were not available, therefore, student performance on the 2009 FCAT Reading assessment was compared to their performance on the 2010 FCAT Reading assessment by calculating a paired samples t-test, t(1225) = 40.82, p = .000, d = 1.23, effect size r = 0.52. The effect size d was divided by the cost per student which calculated an effectiveness-cost ratio of 0.004245 compared to that derived by Yeh (2010) of 0.000125. Caution should be taken when interpreting these results as methodology was not in alignment to Yeh (2010) due to the lack of an immediate post-test measure after participation in summer school and an additional year of interventions and education is reflected in the test scores. The cost per student was calculated to be $1,225.26 less than the amount of money reported in Yeh's (2010) calculations. Based on this information, the diminishing effect of the summer school program on student reading performance in subsequent years, and the majority of students performing below grade level one and two years after summer school participation, it cannot be determined that this program is cost-effective in raising student reading achievement.It is recommended that this study be replicated with adjustments made to address the limitations identified. Further investigation should be made at the state level to determine if the current practice of good cause exemptions and summer school offerings perpetuates the achievement gap in reading.?
Show less
Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0004818, ucf:49753
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004818
Socioeconomic Status, Instrumental Music Participation, and Middle School Student Achievement
Title
Socioeconomic Status, Instrumental Music Participation, and Middle School Student Achievement.
Creator
Antmann, Michael, Murray, Kenneth, Doherty, Walter, Murray, Barbara, Hutchinson, Cynthia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in growth on the reading and mathematics FCAT 2.0 across varying levels of instrumental music participation by both low- and high-socioeconomic status (SES) middle school students, and to determine whether or not there is a relationship between instrumental music participation and socioeconomic status. The differences between instrumental music participation groups were not found to be statistically significant for both the reading...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine the differences in growth on the reading and mathematics FCAT 2.0 across varying levels of instrumental music participation by both low- and high-socioeconomic status (SES) middle school students, and to determine whether or not there is a relationship between instrumental music participation and socioeconomic status. The differences between instrumental music participation groups were not found to be statistically significant for both the reading and mathematics FCAT 2.0 growth by high-SES status students, and for reading FCAT 2.0 growth by low-SES status students. The differences between groups were found to be significant for mathematics FCAT 2.0 growth by low-SES students, but a Tukey HSD post-hoc test found no significant differences between the individual groups. The study also found that high-SES students had a higher rate of instrumental music participation in sixth grade, and a lower attrition rate between sixth and seventh grade than the low-SES students.
Show less
Date Issued
2015
Identifier
CFE0005755, ucf:50073
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005755
EFFECTIVE SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT CORRELATES AS PERCEIVED BY TEACHERS IN AMERICAN STYLE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Title
EFFECTIVE SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT CORRELATES AS PERCEIVED BY TEACHERS IN AMERICAN STYLE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS.
Creator
Doran, James, Allen, Kay, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between effective school characteristics and norm referenced standardized test scores in American-style international schools. In contrast to schools in traditional effective schools research, international schools typically have middle to high SES families, and display average to above average achievement. Eleven effective school characteristics were identified and correlated with standardized test scores for grades 4, 6, and 8...
Show moreThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between effective school characteristics and norm referenced standardized test scores in American-style international schools. In contrast to schools in traditional effective schools research, international schools typically have middle to high SES families, and display average to above average achievement. Eleven effective school characteristics were identified and correlated with standardized test scores for grades 4, 6, and 8 and high school SAT scores. Data was gathered from an online teacher questionnaire designed for this study. All eleven characteristics were present in high performing international schools while frequent analysis of student progress, high academic expectations and positive school environment were more prominent. Positive school environment, high academic expectations, strong instructional leadership and cultural diversity were chosen as important characteristics of an effective international school. Learning time is maximized was the only characteristic that was significantly correlated with achievement and only in grades 4, 6 and 8. There was no statistically significant relationship found between norm referenced test scores and the aggregate effective school characteristics score.
Show less
Date Issued
2004
Identifier
CFE0000245, ucf:46244
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000245
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS' PERSPECTIVES ON THE EFFECTS OF MILITARY PARENTAL DEPLOYMENT ON SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Title
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS' PERSPECTIVES ON THE EFFECTS OF MILITARY PARENTAL DEPLOYMENT ON SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.
Creator
McCloud, Cheryl, Robinson, E.H. Mike, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This qualitative study used an exploratory phenomenological approach to examine professional school counselors' perspectives on the effects of military parental deployment on school aged children and adolescents. The voices of school counselors who work with military connected children are absent from the literature. The research site was a professional counseling conference in Germany in the fall of 2010. Participants consisted of 12 professional school counselors who work with school-aged...
Show moreThis qualitative study used an exploratory phenomenological approach to examine professional school counselors' perspectives on the effects of military parental deployment on school aged children and adolescents. The voices of school counselors who work with military connected children are absent from the literature. The research site was a professional counseling conference in Germany in the fall of 2010. Participants consisted of 12 professional school counselors who work with school-aged children and adolescents who have experienced parental military deployment. Participants adopted pseudonyms though several indicated an affiliation with Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) and therefore offered their unique perspectives as school counselors living in military communities and working almost exclusively with military connected children and families. Data collection consisted of individual interviews with counselor participants. Data analysis consisted of coding meaningful words and phrases and yielded 33 preliminary categories that became new codes. Analysis of relationships between codes resulted in the emergence of four distinct themes: Military Life, Stages of Deployment, Role of the Counselor, and Children and Adolescents. Themes were supported by quotations of meaningful statements, thus participant voices provide thick, rich descriptions of the phenomenon. Validity strategies included peer debriefing, researcher positionality, and multiple examinations of the data set.
Show less
Date Issued
2011
Identifier
CFE0004046, ucf:49128
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004046
Defining Effective Teacher Practices among Students with Emotional Behavioral Disabilities
Title
Defining Effective Teacher Practices among Students with Emotional Behavioral Disabilities.
Creator
Mayes, Zerek, Martin, Suzanne, Boote, David, Butler, S. Kent, Berrio, Gabriel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of special education teachers who worked with students with emotional behavioral disabilities (EBD) across various urban settings and educative environments. Given that the overall percentage of students receiving special education services has increased, the overall percentage of students with EBD served among all school-aged children and youth has remained below 1% (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education...
Show moreThis phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of special education teachers who worked with students with emotional behavioral disabilities (EBD) across various urban settings and educative environments. Given that the overall percentage of students receiving special education services has increased, the overall percentage of students with EBD served among all school-aged children and youth has remained below 1% (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2018). The current failings of reform efforts to improve the academic achievement of students with EBD brings the roles, responsibilities and practices of teachers and their preparation into view. This study examined the impact of culture on the attitudes, beliefs, and practices of special education teachers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants (N = 8). A thematic analysis resulted in three overarching themes. The three themes included: (a) the essentials: keys to student engagement, (b) the frustrations regarding effective program implementation, and (c) elements of an effective program. This study exposed multiple factors affecting the effectiveness of special educators' practices as well as offered recommendations for teachers, schools, districts, policies, and future research.
Show less
Date Issued
2019
Identifier
CFE0007682, ucf:52510
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007682
THE RELATIONSHIP OF 10TH-GRADE DISTRICT PROGRESS MONITORING ASSESSMENT SCORES TO FLORIDA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT TEST SCORES IN READING AND MATHEMATICS FOR 2008-2009
Title
THE RELATIONSHIP OF 10TH-GRADE DISTRICT PROGRESS MONITORING ASSESSMENT SCORES TO FLORIDA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT TEST SCORES IN READING AND MATHEMATICS FOR 2008-2009.
Creator
Underwood, Marilyn, Taylor, Rosemarye, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The focus of this research was to investigate the use of a district created formative benchmark assessment in reading to predict student achievement for 10th-grade students on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) in one county in north central Florida. The purpose of the study was to provide information to high school principals and teachers to better understand how students were performing and learning and to maximize use of the formative district benchmark assessment in order to...
Show moreThe focus of this research was to investigate the use of a district created formative benchmark assessment in reading to predict student achievement for 10th-grade students on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) in one county in north central Florida. The purpose of the study was to provide information to high school principals and teachers to better understand how students were performing and learning and to maximize use of the formative district benchmark assessment in order to modify instruction and positively impact student achievement. This study expanded a prior limited study which correlated district benchmark assessment scores to FCAT scores for students in grades three through five in five elementary schools in the targeted county. The high correlations suggested further study. This research focused on secondary reading, specifically in 10th grade where both state and targeted county FCAT scores were low in years preceding this research. Investigated were (a) the district formative assessment in reading as a predictor of FCAT Reading scores, (b) differences in strength of correlation and prediction among student subgroups and between high schools, and (c) any relationships between reading formative assessment scores and Mathematics FCAT scores. An additional focus of this study was to determine best leadership practices in schools where there were the highest correlations between the formative assessment and FCAT Reading scores. Research on best practices was reviewed, and principals were interviewed to determine trends and themes in practice. Tenth grade students in the seven Florida targeted district high schools were included in the study. The findings of the study supported the effective use of formative assessments both in instruction and as predictors of studentsÂÂÂÂÂÂ' performance on the FCAT. The results of the study also showed a significant correlation between performance on the reading formative assessment and performance on FCAT Mathematics. The data indicated no significant differences in the strength of correlation between student subgroups or between the high schools included in the study. Additionally, the practices of effective principals in using formative assessment data to inform instruction, gathered through personal interviews, were documented and described.
Show less
Date Issued
2010
Identifier
CFE0003214, ucf:48573
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003214