Current Search: Middle School Education (x)
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- Title
- AN EVALUATION OF INTEGRATED CURRICULUM AS IT EXISTS IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE SSS AS WELL AS THE SUBSEQUENT SUPPORTIVE PRESENTATION OF THOSE STANDARDS IN EIGHTH GRADE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS.
- Creator
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Gill, Clara, Dixon, Juli, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study attempted to verify points of intersection (POIs) between mathematics and science in the eighth grade Sunshine State Standards (SSS), and to develop a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate these POIs as they were presented in the respective mathematics and science textbooks approved for use in Florida public schools. Shannon and Weaver (1998) delineated a process for content analysis that informed the design of this analysis. The process began with an analysis of the SSS to...
Show moreThis study attempted to verify points of intersection (POIs) between mathematics and science in the eighth grade Sunshine State Standards (SSS), and to develop a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate these POIs as they were presented in the respective mathematics and science textbooks approved for use in Florida public schools. Shannon and Weaver (1998) delineated a process for content analysis that informed the design of this analysis. The process began with an analysis of the SSS to uncover POIs between mathematics and science; considered effective strategies for presenting these points of intersection in the classroom; and examined the textbooks for a mutually supportive presentation of the POIs between the two domains. The criterion for textbook evaluation was synthesized from documents used by the National Research Council (NRC, 2004) and Project 2061 (Roseman, Kulm, Shuttleworth, 2001. These criteria were examined in terms of measureable elements of textbook design, vocabulary, inquiry and problem solving in order to create integrated objectives, which were then operationalized so that each objective could be evaluated using the Textbook Evaluation Document (TED). The validity of the TED was insured by the transparency of the process. Reliability was determined in two steps, first to determine the most reliable segments of the document and finally to confirm the reliability of those segments. It was determined that the vocabulary section of the TED consistently produced reliability scores above 70% with variation of Supportive Curriculum Scores (SCS) between textbooks. This indicated that a measure of supportive vocabulary could be generated for use in future studies for example correlating supportive curriculum with student achievement.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003010, ucf:48338
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003010
- Title
- Literate Citizenship: The Culture of Literacy in Inclusive Middle School Social Studies Classrooms and Students with Intellectual Disabilities.
- Creator
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Becht, Kathleen, Dieker, Lisa, Wienke, Wilfred, Little, Mary, Zygouris-Coe, Vassiliki, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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As more and more students with intellectual disabilities are included in the general education middle school setting, the culture and context of the literacy instruction they are receiving is severely limited in the existing literature. In this study, the researcher employed an ethnographic research design to observe the literacy culture of two middle school general education social studies teachers in the context of a district and school that had focused on more inclusive practices over the...
Show moreAs more and more students with intellectual disabilities are included in the general education middle school setting, the culture and context of the literacy instruction they are receiving is severely limited in the existing literature. In this study, the researcher employed an ethnographic research design to observe the literacy culture of two middle school general education social studies teachers in the context of a district and school that had focused on more inclusive practices over the past five years. The learning environment and the general education teachers' perceptions and expectations of the nature of literacy for students with intellectual disabilities in the general education setting were observed over a nine week period using two theoretical frameworks; the culture of inclusion (Giangreco, Cloninger, Dennis, (&) Edelman, 1994) and socio-cultural literacy (Barton (&) Hamilton, 1998). The data gathered is reflective of the literacy practices used with the four students with intellectual disabilities who agreed to participate in the in-depth analyses, though nine were enrolled in the three general education classes. The themes of socialization for students with intellectual disabilities in general education classes, and the immersion in and isolation from literacy practices within the general education social studies literacy culture emerged and are discussed in detail. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research for students with intellectual disabilities in general education middle school settings are provided.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005763, ucf:50085
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005763
- Title
- The relationship between participation in tutoring and accountability outcomes in three urban middle schools.
- Creator
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Rajadhyax, Pamela, Taylor, Rosemarye, Doherty, Walter, Baldwin, Lee, Fritz, Ronald, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This quantitative study was conducted to determine the relationship between participation in a school based tutoring and change in accountability measures on the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years. The research was designed to determine the impact of participation in tutoring for urban middle school students. All students who attended one of the three urban middle schools and participated in the...
Show moreThis quantitative study was conducted to determine the relationship between participation in a school based tutoring and change in accountability measures on the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years. The research was designed to determine the impact of participation in tutoring for urban middle school students. All students who attended one of the three urban middle schools and participated in the administration of FSA for mathematics or ELA in both the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years were divided into two groups: students who participated in school based tutoring and students who did not participate in school based tutoring. The results from this study unveiled the relationship between participating in school based tutoring and change in accountability measures on state assessments. The relationship of participation in tutoring and change in accountability measures was identified for all students, English learners, and students with disabilities who participated in school based tutoring and those who did not participate in school based tutoring. Lastly, the difference in mean change of accountability measures and participation by delivery model of school based tutoring: computer-based tutoring, small group tutoring, and a mixed mode of computer-based and small group tutoring was assessed. Findings from Pearson Correlations, independent samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA did not indicate a statistical significance between change on accountability measures and participation in tutoring based on subgroups, delivery model, or grade level assessed. Though this study found no statistical significance, several of the mean changes on accountability measures based on subgroups, tutoring delivery models, or grade level was higher for students who participated in tutoring than for students who did not participate in tutoring. There is still much to be understood about the impacts of tutoring on student achievement.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006782, ucf:51823
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006782
- Title
- An Anthropological Case Study on the Impact of the "No Zero" Homework Policy on Teacher Culture in Two Central Florida Middle Schools.
- Creator
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Bolger, Mary, Howard, Rosalyn, Stewart, Martha, Matejowsky, Ty, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top are Federal educational policies that have evoked criticism from teachers and administrators. Both policies extended the federal government's reach into local education by tying federal funds to a school's student growth and teacher effectiveness. With an increasing emphasis on economic mechanisms such as choice and competition, teachers' effectiveness is now determined by standardized and quantifiable measurements. These policies have created a data...
Show moreNo Child Left Behind and Race to the Top are Federal educational policies that have evoked criticism from teachers and administrators. Both policies extended the federal government's reach into local education by tying federal funds to a school's student growth and teacher effectiveness. With an increasing emphasis on economic mechanisms such as choice and competition, teachers' effectiveness is now determined by standardized and quantifiable measurements. These policies have created a data driven and high stakes accountability culture within each school. Teachers are finding themselves in a new balancing act of recording quantifiable yearly progress for all students while trying to work against environmental factors that are out of their control. The rising trend to utilize a (")no zero(") homework policy under these new pressures merits investigation into its role within teacher culture and these current tensions. The recent call for anthropology to re-enter the classroom as a cultural site allows the researcher to provide context to the fluid relationships that often lead to the reproduction of or resistance against dominant ideology. Using the case study method, this ethnography employs the critical theory framework to examine policy impact on teacher culture and gain an understanding for how and why trends such as the (")no zero(") homework become a part of school policy. By looking at a (")school of choice(") and a traditional (")feeder middle school,(") this thesis gives context to how the local trends illuminate larger cultural shifts.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004975, ucf:49596
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004975
- Title
- THE EFFECTS OF DELAY OF GRATIFICATION ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, and VIOLENT BEHAVIOR OF MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SETTINGS.
- Creator
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Herndon, John, Gill, Michele, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This study examined the effects of delay of gratification on academic success, substance abuse, and violent behavior. The participants in this study were chosen from an alternative learning school comprised of middle school students in Florida. The hypothesis for this study is as follows: Delay of gratification is negatively related to substance abuse and violent behavior, and positively related to academic achievement. The analysis of the data was conducted on the primary predictor variable ...
Show moreThis study examined the effects of delay of gratification on academic success, substance abuse, and violent behavior. The participants in this study were chosen from an alternative learning school comprised of middle school students in Florida. The hypothesis for this study is as follows: Delay of gratification is negatively related to substance abuse and violent behavior, and positively related to academic achievement. The analysis of the data was conducted on the primary predictor variable (delay of gratification), alternate predictor variables (substance abuse and violent behavior) and the ultimate outcome variable (academic achievement) of this study. Initial statistical inquiry involved descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, kurtosis and skew) of the aforementioned variables, partial correlations (variable interrelationships), and the formulation of a multiple regression path analysis to investigate the particular paths individually within the proposed theoretical model (Wagner, 1993).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003756, ucf:48790
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003756
- Title
- INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF VIDEO-BASED ANCHORED INSTRUCTION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INCLUSIVE PRACTICES BY STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES.
- Creator
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O'Brien, Christopher, Dieker, Lisa, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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For several years emerging trends in special education services have favored inclusion for students with disabilities. Concurrent to this evolution of philosophy in special education has been the advent of what could be considered inclusive instructional practices--those methods that aid in the successful inclusion of students with disabilities. These inclusive practices include co-teaching, cooperative learning, peer-mediated instruction, positive behavioral support, embedded learning...
Show moreFor several years emerging trends in special education services have favored inclusion for students with disabilities. Concurrent to this evolution of philosophy in special education has been the advent of what could be considered inclusive instructional practices--those methods that aid in the successful inclusion of students with disabilities. These inclusive practices include co-teaching, cooperative learning, peer-mediated instruction, positive behavioral support, embedded learning strategies, and content-enhancements (Ehren, Lenz, & Deshler, 2005; King-Sears, 1997). As inclusive placements become an increasingly common standard of practice, particularly for students with learning disabilities, the need to assist general educators in establishing inclusive classrooms becomes a major priority. It is logical then to prioritize the propagation of inclusive practices in general education classrooms--practices that would take into account the natural diversity of student populations likely to be present in American classrooms. Cooperative learning, in the form of Literature Circles, is offered in this study as a highly effective method for laying the groundwork for inclusion. This study, rooted in the theory of anchored instruction, attempted to address the need for incorporating inclusive practices by investigating the potential for students with learning disabilities to implement Literature Circles by viewing video models. This research evaluated the impact of video models on three levels--the extent to which the video models improve the ability for students with learning disabilities to a) learn the foundational information and rationale of a strategy, b) implement the strategy effectively, and c) improve academic outcomes by implementing the strategy. Finally, an attempt was made to further probe student perception of learning a strategy from a video model through focus group interviews. Data was collected using a quasi-experimental design. Forty-nine classrooms were randomly assigned to video-based and traditional treatments. Students attempted to implement Literature Circles in their middle school social studies classes. Following data collection, quantitative statistical analysis was completed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to examine group differences in knowledge of the essential elements of the strategy, implementation of the strategy, and content achievement. Qualitative analysis of student focus group responses was completed by scrutinizing transcripts for general themes (Erickson, 1986). This study made a connection between lines of research on video-based anchored instruction for students with learning disabilities and video-anchors in teacher preparation. The full sample of 196 students, including 43 students with learning disabilities, demonstrated significantly more effective implementation of Literature Circles. Students in the video model focus group indicated that they benefited from the explicit, positive peer models demonstrated in the video. The continued proliferation of visual images in the form of video-based models represents a positive step toward increasing available resources to students and teachers and ultimately improving outcomes for students with learning disabilities.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001215, ucf:46947
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001215
- Title
- A comparison of eighth grade athletes and non-athletes: Academic achievement, time spent on homework, future educational goals, and socioeconomic status.
- Creator
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Shelby, John, Taylor, Rosemarye, Hahs-Vaughn, Debbie, Doherty, Walter, Ford, Robert, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This study examined the differences between eighth grade athletes and non-athletes in terms of mathematics and reading achievement based on standardized test scores from direct cognitive assessments in mathematics and reading. The data for this study came from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K). Data were collected from student and parent surveys in conjunction with direct cognitive assessments. The research questions were as follows: 1. To what...
Show moreThis study examined the differences between eighth grade athletes and non-athletes in terms of mathematics and reading achievement based on standardized test scores from direct cognitive assessments in mathematics and reading. The data for this study came from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K). Data were collected from student and parent surveys in conjunction with direct cognitive assessments. The research questions were as follows: 1. To what extent is there a difference in mathematics achievement between eighth grade athletes and non-athletes while controlling for self-reported future educational goals and socioeconomic status?2. To what extent is there a difference in mathematics achievement between eighth grade athletes and non-athletes while controlling for self-reported weekly time spent on homework and socioeconomic status?3. To what extent is there a difference in reading achievement between eighth grade athletes and non-athletes while controlling for self-reported future educational goals and socioeconomic status?4. To what extent is there a difference in reading achievement between eighth grade athletes and non-athletes while controlling for self-reported weekly time spent on homework and socioeconomic status?Factorial ANOVA's were used answer each research question. An additional variable, gender, was utilized to further evaluate differences in mathematics and reading scale scores. Based upon the results, no statistical significance was found in the three-way interaction effects for any of the research questions. As the two-way and main effects comparisons were evaluated, statistical significance was indicated within each question based on the multiple independent variables. Overall, the athletes did not outscore non-athletes.There were consistent differences in mean scores in reading and mathematics based upon self-stated future educational goals where students maintained higher mean scores in reading and mathematics as their educational goals increased. In addition consistent differences in mean scores in reading and mathematics were indicated where students below the poverty level had lower mean scores than students at or above the poverty level. Finally, students' mathematics and reading achievement significantly increased as their self-reported weekly time spent on homework increased.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0004166, ucf:49064
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004166
- Title
- THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THINKING MAPSî AND FLORIDA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT TESTî READING AND MATHEMATICS SCORES IN TWO URBAN MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
- Creator
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Diaz, Anna, Martin, Suzanne, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The purpose of this study was to determine what difference, if any, exists between the implementation and use of Thinking Mapsî and studentsÃÂ' academic achievement in Reading and Mathematics as measured over time by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Testî (FCAT). Thinking Mapsî is a registered trademark of Thinking Maps, Inc. The data were examined after three years of Thinking MapsÃ&...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine what difference, if any, exists between the implementation and use of Thinking Mapsî and studentsÃÂ' academic achievement in Reading and Mathematics as measured over time by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Testî (FCAT). Thinking Mapsî is a registered trademark of Thinking Maps, Inc. The data were examined after three years of Thinking Mapsî implementation and instruction. The design of this study was quantitative, with a nonrandomized control group, pretest-posttest design (Ary, Jacobs, & Razavieh, 2002) that examined the effects on student Reading and Mathematics FCAT scores in one middle school that implemented Thinking Mapsî throughout all grade levels and core subjects for three years as compared to student Reading and Mathematics FCAT scores in a second middle school that did not implement the Thinking Mapsî program throughout all grade levels and core subjects for three years. MANOVA and Chi-square tests were used to examine student FCAT scores. This study focused on one major question: Do students who have been instructed in the use of Thinking Mapsî have higher academic achievement as measured by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Testî (FCAT) than those that have not been instructed in the use of Thinking Mapsî? Results of this study indicated that students who have been instructed in the use of Thinking Mapsî do not have higher academic achievement as measured by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Testî (FCAT) than those who have not been instructed in the use of Thinking Mapsî. The researcher concluded that other methods of evaluating the implementation of Thinking Mapsî and student achievement should be explored.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003319, ucf:48448
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003319
- Title
- Farm to Fork: A Culinary- and Farm-Enhanced Nutrition Education Program.
- Creator
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Ray, Vivian, Hopp, Carolyn, Lue, Martha, Stout, Jeffrey, Thomas, Lionel, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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With obesity in adolescents becoming a major health problem in the United States, there has been an expansion in the use of nutritional education programs as intervention. Effective nutrition education can decrease the incidence of obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. This dissertation in practice proposes to design a nutrition education program, integrating farm and culinary activities into a nutrition education...
Show moreWith obesity in adolescents becoming a major health problem in the United States, there has been an expansion in the use of nutritional education programs as intervention. Effective nutrition education can decrease the incidence of obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. This dissertation in practice proposes to design a nutrition education program, integrating farm and culinary activities into a nutrition education curriculum. The program is designed as a stand-alone program, but for this practice, implementation integrates the nutrition education program into the Film @ 6 after-school program (-) a STEM-focused program designed to assist sixth graders in their first year of middle school (-) at Southeast Middle School in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina (NC). This experiential nutrition education program will provide instruction and activities in order to increase nutritional knowledge, improve culinary techniques, and increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and minimally processed foods of sixth grade students as a means to address the overweight and obesity risks of middle school children. Children and adolescents are considered the priority population for intervention strategies because 70% of obese adolescents become obese adults and it is difficult to reduce excessive weight once established (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh, (&) Merchant, 2005).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005871, ucf:50866
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005871
- Title
- A Comparison of Sixth Grade Student Achievement in Reading and Mathematics at School Transition Year.
- Creator
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Roseboom, Julie, Taylor, Rosemarye, Doherty, Walter, Bai, Haiyan, Beattie, Karen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study contributed information for consideration as school districts determine grade span configuration as part of school design. The problem addressed was the extent to which student achievement may be impacted by the transition from one school to another from fifth to sixth grade in Florida public schools in order to provide data to school policy makers and school district administrators and add to the body of knowledge on the grade level configuration that contributed the most to...
Show moreThis study contributed information for consideration as school districts determine grade span configuration as part of school design. The problem addressed was the extent to which student achievement may be impacted by the transition from one school to another from fifth to sixth grade in Florida public schools in order to provide data to school policy makers and school district administrators and add to the body of knowledge on the grade level configuration that contributed the most to student achievement in sixth grade. This was a causal-comparative study using quantitative data to analyze student scores at the school level for reading and mathematics on the 2014 Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) 2.0 assessment to explore the difference in achievement for sixth grade students with no school transition compared to those who had school transitions during middle school. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to examine if a difference existed in the dependent variables of sixth-grade reading and mathematics achievement as measured by school mean developmental scale scores and the school percentage of students making learning gains on the FCAT 2.0 between schools with sixth grade as the transition year and without sixth grade as the transition year. The analyses were controlled for the covariates of the school percentages of socio-economic status as determined by free and reduced lunch rate, English Learner status, and exceptional student education status. Findings signified that schools with no school transition between fifth and sixth grade in Florida public schools had higher sixth-grade mean scores in reading and mathematics as measured by school mean developmental scale scores and in reading as measured by the percentage of school learning gains. This study offers insight into what grade configuration is more likely to positively impact student achievement during the middle grades and supports students remaining in an elementary setting with fewer transitions during the middle grades to most benefit reading and mathematics achievement. Findings are useful to school boards, superintendents, and school district administrators interested in educational policy development and research on transition especially when restructuring school grade configurations and building new school sites.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0006545, ucf:51347
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006545
- Title
- A Case Study Exploring the Relationship between Culturally Responsive Teaching and a Mathematical Practice of the Common Core State Standards.
- Creator
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Howse, Tashana, Dixon, Juli, Haciomeroglu, Erhan, Andreasen, Janet, Adams, Thomasenia, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This collective case study explores the nature of the relationship between teachers' use of culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practices and students' engagement in constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others (SMP3). This study was informed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative related to developing mathematically proficient students through the use of student engagement practices consistent with the standards for mathematical practice. As a means to support...
Show moreThis collective case study explores the nature of the relationship between teachers' use of culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practices and students' engagement in constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others (SMP3). This study was informed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative related to developing mathematically proficient students through the use of student engagement practices consistent with the standards for mathematical practice. As a means to support teachers' facilitating specific student engagement practices, professional development was provided. This study is situated in the growing body of research associated with student engagement and cultural identity. The case of two teachers was defined from interviews, classroom observations, journal prompts, and student artifacts. Data was collected before, during, and after professional development following a cross-case analysis. Four themes emerged: (a) shift in teacher practice; (b) depth and breadth of the knowledge of culturally responsive teaching and standard for mathematical practice three; (c) teacher reflection and reception; and (d) classroom management. The findings suggest that the shift in teacher practice can be supported by professional development focused on reflective practice. This shift is impacted by classroom management and teachers' depth and breadth of their knowledge of CRT and SMP3.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0005005, ucf:50009
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005005