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2014

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Best practice

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Standards-Based Grading That Results In Grades Accurately Reflecting Students’ Knowledge, Danielle Asplund Dec 2014

Standards-Based Grading That Results In Grades Accurately Reflecting Students’ Knowledge, Danielle Asplund

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to measure the effectiveness of grading practices commonly associated with Standard-Based Grading (SBG). Participants included 60 ninth and tenth grade struggling readers in a rural Midwestern high school. Qualitative data collection methods included: Google Forms, student reflection and journaling, conferencing with students, and comparing this year’s grades to last year’s grades (by student). During a four week period, certain SBG practices were implemented such as: offering re-dos, highest possible F (59%), specific feedback, and not grading all formative work. Without grading every assignment, student’s English grades decreased from the previous year. However, students …


A Positive Approach To Reducing Negative Student Behavior, Brittany Oslund Dec 2014

A Positive Approach To Reducing Negative Student Behavior, Brittany Oslund

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The focus of this research involved the implementation of a behavior management system with a positive focus in order to investigate how it would encourage optimal student behavior. The behavior management system was Educational Non-Verbal Yardsticks (ENVoY), created by Michael Grinder (2005). The research was conducted throughout five first-grade Spanish classrooms in an urban Midwest location. Baseline data was measured through student artifacts, student feedback questionnaires, a teacher journal, and behavior observation checklists. Upon the conclusion of the baseline data collection, the remaining time included behavior modeling sessions, the implementation of ENVoY, and data collection. The data collection methods were …


Improving Reading Skills In Social Studies, Bradley Leingang Dec 2014

Improving Reading Skills In Social Studies, Bradley Leingang

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The focus of this study was to determine whether the introduction of reading strategies in the social studies classroom could increase student achievement in social studies. The study collected data from ninth graders in a regular educational Global Studies classroom. Student-generated data collected included formative assessments such as pre and post-tests, map quizzes, unit tests and exit slips. Reading strategies outcomes were analyzed from a student perspective via student exit slips and information gathered instudent-teacher conferencing. The implementation of the reading strategy was successful. Statistics showed greater improvement for girls than for boys. The majority of students found the introduction …


The Effects Of Information And Communication Technology On Student Achievement, Thomas Johnson Dec 2014

The Effects Of Information And Communication Technology On Student Achievement, Thomas Johnson

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The objective of this research was to explore the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on student achievement in a secondary social studies classroom. The research was conducted in three sections of ninth-grade Geography in a rural public high school over the course of four weeks. A pre-test was completed by students to understand their background using ICT in the classroom. Data was collected through the completion of journal writing by students, and through the analysis of grades earned on assessments. A post-test was completed by students to measure their acceptance of ICT in the classroom. The data revealed …


The Effects Of The Math Daily 3 Structure On Student Achievement And Growth In An Elementary School Setting, Lauren Ktytor, Kate Waechter Dec 2014

The Effects Of The Math Daily 3 Structure On Student Achievement And Growth In An Elementary School Setting, Lauren Ktytor, Kate Waechter

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to determine if The Math Daily 3 Structure would increase student achievement and academic growth in the domains of operations and algebraic thinking and number and operations in base ten. The study was conducted in second and fourth grade classrooms over a six-week period. The participants included 18 males and 17 females between the ages of 7 and 11. Data collection methods included a student self-evaluation, observational record, and baseline and summative assessments with a grading scale that measures end of the year expectations. In both second and fourth grade, the students showed …


The Effects Of Developing A Positive Class Culture On Student Participation In A Kindergarten Classroom, Ashley Garaas Dec 2014

The Effects Of Developing A Positive Class Culture On Student Participation In A Kindergarten Classroom, Ashley Garaas

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research study was conducted in a kindergarten classroom at a public elementary school; it included 14 students, nine boys and five girls. This investigation lasted five weeks to examine the effects of developing a positive class culture on student participation in class discussions. Data was collected on pre-, mid-, and post- student input forms, student participation spreadsheet, notes on student conferences, and notes in teacher reflection journal. The results from the student input forms and student participation spreadsheet showed a slight increase in positive attitude and participation level throughout the study. The teacher data showed an increase in …


Blogging To Enhance The Classroom Experience, Christine Schmitt Dec 2014

Blogging To Enhance The Classroom Experience, Christine Schmitt

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research study was to determine the effects blogging had on the sixth grade reading classroom. This examination took place during the first five weeks of school in a public school classroom setting with four rotations of around eighty-eight sixth graders total. Data was collected using student self-assessment rubrics, student input questions, observational participation tallies, and teacher field notes. The self-assessment rubrics showed students initially ranked themselves higher than their actual work, but with time, they became more accurate evaluators of their work. Classroom conversations about the rubric also showed increased understanding of the expectations and self-evaluation …