Education Commons^™

Eighth Graders’ Approaches To Reading Analysis As Compared With The Pssa’S Application Of Common Core Standards, John Phillips

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

States administer standardized tests such as the PSSAs to students each year to assess student mastery of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Many argued the CCSS and close reading are reincarnations of new criticism (Tampio, 2018), but CCSS creators did not cite empirical research showing students approached literary analysis through close reading or new criticism (Dewitz & Graves, 2021; Hinchman & Moore, 2013). In opposition of new criticism, Rosenblatt (1978) argued for transactional reading with her reader response theory. In order to examine how students make meaning of texts, this study used a simultaneous mixed-methods QUAL-QUAL design (Morse, 2010) …

Secondary And Postsecondary Educators’ Writing Expectations After The Implementation Of The Common Core State Standards, Lauren Gibbons

Theses and Dissertations

Despite low levels of writing proficiency, noted gaps between secondary and postsecondary writing practices, and calls for a vertical curriculum, there is little research directly comparing the writing expectations of high school and college-level English educators after the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. In this convergent mixed methods research study, I explored the writing expectations of members of these two distinct communities to better understand how differences in expectations may contribute to the perceived writing gap between secondary and postsecondary contexts. Grounded in sociocultural theory, I conducted survey and interview research to study this topic, drawing on both …

Perspectives On Professional Development On Common Core Standards For English Language Arts, Martin W. Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Middle school teachers at a rural site in a western state have faced problems in implementing Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts (ELA), as well as in resolving achievement gaps in ELA between regular education students, special education (SPED) students, English language learners (ELL), and at-risk students. The purpose of this case study was to obtain teachers’ and school leaders’ perspectives on how CCSS for ELA can be used to enhance learning for all populations of students using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. The CCSS for ELA and UDL comprised the frameworks employed in this …

A Case Study On The Implementation Of Common Core State Standards In An Urban Charter School Of New Jersey And Its Influence On College Readiness Of High School Students, Mursel Gunes

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

For this research, four college readiness metrics were examined with the aim of analyzing the effects that implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in an urban charter school in New Jersey will have on the college readiness of the school’s high school students. These metrics used were (a) participation rates in PSAT/PLAN, SAT, and AP/IB tests; (b) percentage of students who took SAT and scored 1,550 or above; (c) percentage of students who took AP/IB tests and scored three or more; and (d) schoolwide post-secondary program enrollment rates. Using a sequential mixed methods design, the researcher first analyzed these …

Teachers' Implementation Of And Stages Of Concern Regarding English Language Arts (Ela) Common Core State Standards (Ccss) In New York State, Alozie Augustine Ogbonna

Dissertations

Problem

In the State of New York, the adoption and implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and associated high-stakes assessments have sparked debates among educators, parents, students and politicians. Educators are concerned about its impact on students' test scores, graduation rates and school funding. With mounting accountability threats, teachers are forced to teach to the test in order to produce desirable test scores (Zimmerman, 2010, as cited in Pinar, 2012, p.17). Unfortunately, there were no studies that promoted understanding of teachers' concerns and the extent to which they were implementing the CCSS. The purpose of this study was …

Where's The Rigor? A Study Of Direct Instruction Vs. Inquiry-Based Learning In Math Education, Brianna Rae Warner

Honors Projects

Research suggests that there is an absence of rigor in high school mathematics classes. Since curricula is often used to guide instruction, an analysis of direct instruction and inquiry-based learning curricula was conducted to investigate how rigor is integrated into these divergent approaches for presenting content to high school mathematics students, based on the expectation of rigor aligned with the Common Core State Standards regarding how (1) conceptual understanding, (2) procedural skill and fluency, and (3) applications are developed in the text. The results of the analysis show that neither style for writing curriculum is in alignment with the CCSS. …

The Relationship Between Reading Level And Standardized Achievement Results, Monifa Johnson

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the relationship between eighth grade ELA MAAP achievement and DRP score in lowest performing students. For this research study, lowest performing students are students who scored in the bottom 25% of their class on the eighth grade ELA MAAP during the 2016–2017 school year. This study included a total population sample of 87 students who were in ninth grade during the 2017–2018 school year at a public high school in Mississippi and who were identified as lowest performing on the 2016–2017 eighth grade ELA MAAP. A Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple linear regression were used to …

Implementation Of Literacy Strategies And The Impact On Word Problems, Lindsey R. Glick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the implementation of literacy strategies in a fifth grade mathematics classroom would affect comprehension. The specific aim is to see what happens when students utilize literacy strategies when solving mathematical word problems. Three literacy topics were the focal point in this study: vocabulary, writing, and comprehension. Literacy strategies from each topic were introduced and applied during a mathematics class. Surveys, math journals, graphic organizers, classroom discussions, and interviews were analyzed. The limitations and implications for incorporating literacy instruction in a mathematics class are discussed.

Mathematical Literacy: The Effects Of Mathematics Journals On Student Understanding Of Fractions In A Montessori Classroom, Eileen Bechler

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

It is a typical Monday morning. As students enter the classroom wearing brightly colored polo shirts embroidered with the school logo, their smiles are equally bright. This Title I public school in the heart of the city where 96% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch has recently opened a Montessori option. Walking into the classroom, one 5th grade student eagerly asks, “Who’s on the bread committee this week?” Baking bread is a weekly occurrence in the upper elementary (4th – 6th grade) Montessori classroom. During the first week of school, this same student vehemently threw materials to …

Teachers' Perceptions About Instructing Underachieving K-5 Students On Mathematical Word Problem-Solving, Crystal Yvette Baldwindouglas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The state of Maryland has implemented the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) operations & algebraic thinking and number & operations-fractions with emphasis on students in Grades K-5 acquiring the ability to solve word problems for state and curriculum math assessments. However, since the implementation of CCSSM, 30% of elementary students in a Maryland school district have demonstrated underachievement (basic or below basic level) on problem-solving sections of the state and school standardized tests. This qualitative case study, guided by Polya's model of the four phases of mathematical problem-solving, was conducted to address this problem. The research questions addressed …

The Effect Of Interactive Notebooks On The Science Proficiency Of Biology 1 Students, Shereka Faye Newson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Local High School, a pseudonym, located in Northwest Mississippi has in place two differing Biology 1 curricula; in one curriculum, the students use interactive notebooks daily and in the other curriculum, they are not used. The purpose of this ex post facto quasi-experimental study was to investigate the impact that an instructional tool, such as the interactive notebook, could have on student achievement. Instructional design theory and the materials, methods, environment, collaboration, content, and assessment (MMECCA) framework served as the theoretical framework for this study. The standard measure of science proficiency was provided by the test results from the Biology …

The Integration Of Reading, Writing, Speaking, And Listening Skills In The Middle School Social Studies Classroom, Marianne Bristow Evans

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this feasibility study is to provide evidence of how integrating reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills into eighth-grade social studies instruction facilitates student understanding of content material and ability to write about social studies content. In this within-subjects paired-samples research study, 197 eighth-grade participants received instruction in a social studies content area and in argumentative writing. Data from a criterion-referenced social studies pre and posttest and data from pre and post instruction writing samples were analyzed to evaluate the influence of the integration of literacy tasks in middle school social studies classrooms on content area knowledge acquisition …

Content Complexity In High School English: An Analysis Of Common Core State Standards And Past Massachusetts Curriculum, Mark Jarmon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

There has been much debate about having standardized curricula content standards for all. Some have criticized state curriculum content standards for varying in quality by state. The purpose of this study was to compare content complexity as it appears within the high school English Language Arts Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the former state standards of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001), in Grades 9–12. Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) was the framework through which the analysis for this study was conducted. Webb described four levels of DOK as they apply to English language arts specific …

Teacher Autonomy In A Site-Managed Charter School: Views Of Autonomy, Autonomy Support, And Their Educational Impact, Kristen Levin

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover how pre-service teachers (PSTs), classroom teachers, and administrators in an urban charter school perceive their own professional autonomy and administrative support by the school, and how the balance of autonomy and support impact their instructional practices. I designed and implemented this research as a single case study of Highland Charter School (a pseudonym), in a Midwestern U.S. city. This study involved seven teachers, three pre-service teachers, six administrators, and the charter sponsor. The case is an independent charter school serving mainly students of low socioeconomic backgrounds, from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. At …

Background Knowledge Conversations About Informational Text, Vanessa Gottesfeld

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover what happened when students are given opportunities to discuss their background knowledge before reading an informational text and to discuss how their background knowledge changed and grew after reading the text. The specific aim of this project was to find out how students interacted with each other during these structured and scaffolded conversations. Transcripts of student conversations, student artifacts, observations of conversations, and a teacher research journal were analyzed. The group of students studied demonstrated the ability to learn from each other, expand on each other's comments, and address misconceptions. The implications …

High School Teachers' Self-Reported Knowledge And Implementation Of Social And Emotional Learning Competencies, Stephanie Y. Clark Rhoe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public policymakers have failed to address public high school students' social and emotional learning (SEL). Recent public policies such as Common Core State Standards (CCSS) do not measure SEL outcomes as significant. Public education is government funded and therefore public policy driven. Research indicates SEL competencies have a positive influence on students' academic successes, classroom behaviors, and future career outcomes. The conceptual framework for this study was based on SEL components described by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and served as the lens though which the data were analyzed. Research questions for this phenomenological study explored …

Common Core State Standards’ Influences On Teacher Self-Efficacy And Instructional Practices For Students With Learning Disabilities, Tina O'Neal

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study uses survey data to assess the influences of Common Core State Standards on teacher self-efficacy. Participants in this study included African-American teachers (who taught at least one special education student) from an online network that hosts approximately 153,000 members from across the United States. A convenience sample of 156 teachers participated in the survey, and 124 participants met criteria.

The survey included the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale Survey. The survey was comprised of three subscales, which included Efficacy in Student Engagement, Efficacy in Instructional Strategy Practices, and Efficacy in Classroom Management. Demographic information was also collected.

A One-Way ANOVA …

The Common Core State Standards And The Elementary Social Studies Curriculum: A Case Study Of Teacher Perceptions In Florida, Kacie M. Nadeau

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The most recent phase of curriculum reform in the era of accountability is the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which have essentially reshaped the landscape of public education. Its objective of preparing K-12 students for college and career upon high school graduation have prioritized English language arts, mathematics, and science over social studies, which is not part of widespread high-stakes testing for elementary students. This qualitative case study investigated eleven intermediate elementary teachers’ perceptions of alignment between CCSS and the elementary social studies curriculum. Data gathering analysis included two semi-structured interviews and an archival analysis of the mandated curriculum. The …

A Comparison Of Complex Thinking Required By The Middle School New Jersey Student Learning Standards And Past New Jersey Curriculum Standards, Clifford R. Burns

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Learning standards define what knowledge and skills students need to master in order to be prepared for college and careers. The acquisition of knowledge and skills is essential for the 21st century learner as students are required to think, problem solve, create, and communicate for future employers. The best 21st century learning standards are those that provide the opportunity to develop complex thinking skills including creativity, strategic thinking, and critical thinking. This dissertation sought to examine the cognitive complexity of the newly adopted New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) in Grades 6–8 mathematics as compared to the cognitive complexity of …

Curricula As Complements: Inclusive Content-Based Literature And The Goals Of Common Core In Secondary Students’ English Achievement, Sara Lott

Theses and Dissertations

The Common Core State Standards now suggest a 70% nonfiction, 30% fiction reading load for 6th to 12th grade students (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2017). To satisfy this curricular push toward nonfiction, many secondary English teachers are shifting away from inclusive literature instruction to a more standardized English Language Arts (ELA) model based on Common Core’s five strands for ELA: reading informational text, reading literature, writing, language, and speaking and listening. This ideological and practical shift within secondary ELA has created a local-level problem of practice. Owing to Common Core’s relative silence on issues of diversity, shifts away from …

Implementation Of Common Core State Standards And South Carolina College And Career Ready Standards: Successes And Struggles, Matthew D. Scandrol

Theses and Dissertations

In 2009 the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative was introduced to the nation’s education systems. The CCSS initiative compelled schools and districts to re-evaluate instructional programs to better meet the instructional needs of students as well as the professional development needs of teachers and administrators.

On May 30, 2014, South Carolina became the second state to withdraw from the CCSS initiative. South Carolina developed its own statewide set of standards to replace the Common Core for the 2015-2016 school year. Titled the South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards (SCCCRS), these standards are heavily influenced by the Common Core. …

The Voices Of Educators: An Interview Study Of The Implementation Process Of The English/Language Arts Common Core State Standards Initiative, Efren Ponce

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Historically, disenfranchised students in the American education system have been promised opportunity through successful participation in the school system. These promises are voiced in legislation like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and by executive actions like President Obama’s Race to the Top Initiative. Evidenced by the continuing education gap, the promises of success through education continue to evade many American children across the nation, especially students who are most in need of the support promised in these quixotic visions of opportunity.

This is a qualitative interview study that aimed to gather the voices of educators involved in …

What Is Being Said About Historical Literacy In Literacy And Social Studies Journals: A Content Analysis, Kiera Beddes

Theses and Dissertations

The Common Core State Standards and the National Council for the Social Studies (C3 Framework) have recently prompted renewed emphasis on literacy, particularly in history, therefore it is important to analyze and compare what exactly the teacher educators of leading journals are saying about historical literacy. This study examines the literacy messages for the history classroom in The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy and Theory (JAAL) and Research in Social Education (TRSE) from 2010-2015. An emergent, qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data from these journals. Results from this study indicates definitions on historical literacy vary between journals, …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Mandated Curriculum: Common Core State Standards, Ruth Hirsch

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to describe and analyze the perceptions of intermediate, middle, and high school teachers regarding the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). A triangulation method was used to collect data and analyze from interviews, observations, and artifacts from the three districts in the study. Teachers’ perspectives, personal views, and receptiveness as they related to the implementation of the CCSS within their districts were investigated. The interviews, observations, and artifacts were coded and analyzed for common themes and patterns. The findings revealed that although the teachers were hopeful that future students would be more comfortable …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Perceptions Of Kindergarten Retention: Are Standards To Be Blamed?, Ginger Delaigle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Currently there are a number of Kindergarten students who are being retained for not mastering Common Core State Standards. One of the methods that teachers can use to support Kindergarten students in achieving these standards are Developmentally Appropriate Practices. The exploration of the perceptions of teachers who have experienced the phenomenon of retaining Kindergarten students served as the goal for this qualitative, phenomenological study. The results provided data for examination of the perceptions the teachers had with retaining Kindergarten students and their perceptions of the developmental appropriateness of the Common Core State Standards. Four Kindergarten teachers participated in three interviews …

Technology Underutilized: Principal’S Role In Creating A Culture Of High-Level Uses, Darlene A. Foley

Educational Studies Dissertations

Teachers need to maximize technology to support student learning by drawing upon varying pedagogical orientations; however, teacher-centered, highly structured approaches that foster low-level thinking is more prevalent. Although highly structured approaches help develop students’ foundational skills and content knowledge, student-centered, open-ended approaches foster high-level thinking aimed by the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Literature suggests principals have an important role in the implementation of the CCSS and technology integration, but it does not capture the ways principals help teachers adopt high-level uses of technology. This research asks the overarching question, “What actions, decisions, and relationships do principals perceive contributed to …

An Examination Of The Practice Of Aligning Speech-Language Therapy Goals To The Common Core State Standards For English Language Arts, Gerard Francis Shine

Theses and Dissertations

Implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is now a curriculum priority for school districts across the United States. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are exploring ways to incorporate the CCSS into their assessment and therapy practices. Literature centered on the development of language goals aligned with the CCSS for English language arts (ELA) was limited. The purpose of this study was to identify if SLPs working in public elementary and middle school settings had adopted the practice of aligning their language-intervention goals to the CCSS for ELA for students on their caseloads. Perceived feasibility of language goal alignment to the …

Leading Curricular Change: The Role Of The School Principal In Implementation Of The Common Core State Standards, Tiffany Marie Squires

Dissertations - ALL

Principals, whose jobs are increasingly being reframed as requiring instructional leadership (Lunenburg, 2013; Hallinger, 2005), serve as a vital link between standards-based reform and its successful implementation at the school level (Fullan, 2011; Hallinger & Heck, 1996; Leithwood & Riehl, 2005; Spillane & Hunt, 2010). Standards-based reform or guidelines for change mandated by state government significantly influence teaching and learning (Beane, 2013). Our nation’s latest iteration of standards-based reform is comprised within the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which are currently fully implemented in 42 states. Despite the essential role of the school leader in implementation of standards-based reform, research …

Emergent Themes Surrounding The Implementation Of The Common Core State Standards For Mathematics For Students With Learning Disabilities In Mathematics, Andrew R. Mills

All NMU Master's Theses

As the nation transitions into a new national curriculum, the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM), educators face the challenge of meeting the needs of a diverse student population coupled with a change in standards. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand educators’ perceptions surrounding the implementation of these standards specific to students with learning disabilities in mathematics. Five rural, middle school educators were interviewed using a series of questions that investigated their experiences related to implementation of the CCSSM. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Coding was used to identify emergent themes surrounding the phenomenon. Six emergent …

Success After Failure: An Examination Of Credit Recovery Options And Their Effect On College- And Career-Readiness, Kathryn B. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

More than ever before, educators and researchers are keeping a keen eye on student college- and career-readiness. The widely adopted Common Core State Standards were written with the explicit goal of helping students to be college- or career-ready by the time they graduate from high school. However, many students experience setbacks, such as course failure, within their educational career placing them at risk for not reaching this goal. Because the ACT can predict student success in college, states often use benchmark scores from the exam to measure student college- and career-readiness. A student who fails to learn fundamental concepts in …