Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Interventions For Ninth-Grade Middle-Achieving Students, Bradley C. Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Implementing intentionally designed interventions to improve students’ academic performance has been a focus of educational stakeholders for decades. However, the implementation of academic interventions for average-achieving students, particularly during their freshman year of high school, appears to be lacking. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to explore designed interventions implemented by high school administrators from two unified school districts in California that focused on the academic performance of middle-achieving students during their ninth-grade year. This qualitative grounded theory study focused on the perspective of a purposive sampling group of high school administrators, which included principals, assistant principals, …

The Impact Of A Four-Station Blended Learning Model Of Differentiating Instruction On Student Engagement In A Middle School Chinese I Class In A Southeastern State, Junlan Li

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to examine the impact of the proposed Four-Station Blended Learning Model (FSBLM) on the engagement level of four middle school students in a Chinese as a foreign language class. For the purposes of the study, student engagement is defined by three aspects: (1) participation in class activities, (2) classwork completion, and (3) student perceptions of Chinese class. Incorporating an action research design, data was collected through utilizing Likert-scale pre- and post-surveys, pre- and post-interviews, observations and the taking of field notes, students’ work samples, and classwork grades. Both qualitative and quantitative data were …

“Math Talks Are Like An Alarm Clock Waking You Up”: Language’S Crucial Role In Mathematics, Ella Wasser

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Whole group math talks, or number talks, are a common practice to get students talking about their own understanding of mathematical concepts. The purpose of this study was to implement math talks in small group settings to see what would happen, specifically to students’ conceptual understanding as well their general perceptions of math talks. This study took place in a fourth-grade math classroom, and math talks were implemented with the whole class for a week and then moved to small groups for the remaining three weeks of the study. During the study, a pre-and post-assessment was given, field notes were …

Measuring Student Engagement And Student Satisfaction In Online And In-Person High School Classes, Joseph Jasper

Master of Education Program Theses

This research study examined and compared the differences in student engagement and student satisfaction between an online and an in-person entrepreneurship class at a private Christian school in Southern California. The participants were the students in either of the online or in-person sections of the class. The study collected both quantitative data through the use of a survey and qualitative data through the use of open-ended response questions and semistructured interviews with five of the participants. The results of this study found that the levels of student engagement and student satisfaction were slightly higher for the online section than for …

Teach Peacefully: Fostering A Positive And Engaging Classroom Environment, Kate E. Orbon

Community Engagement Student Work

This study explores the impact discipline strategies and classroom management techniques have on both students and teachers. Discipline strategies can positively and negatively affect student engagement, student behaviors, and student self-perception. They can also affect both negatively and positively teacher retention and job satisfaction. Evidence-based practices in peaceful, positive discipline create a learning environment that is engaging, respectful, and collaborative. Discipline strategies that promote connection, collaboration, empowerment, and respect foster the social, emotional, cognitive, and academic wellbeing of students.

Student Perceptions Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And The Impact On Teacher-Student Relationships, Robert Louis Harris

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore how six eighth-grade Magnet Program students perceive their teacher-student relationship through the teacher’s use of culturally relevant pedagogy. This case study provided information that guides a classroom teacher in the implementation of culturally relevant pedagogy that helps develop and maintain teacher-student relationships. The resulting analysis and interpretation provided major themes that developed regarding the use of culturally relevant strategies in the classroom.

This study informs educators in the profession about the extent to which students perceptions impact their relationship with the teacher. Findings could be used by teachers and administrators to advocate …

An Examination Of The Integration Of Augmented Reality In Science Curriculum, Cathleen A. Bierman

Masters Theses

This study examines students’ success rate and level of engagement in a science classroom by using augmented reality (AR) specifically merge cube. Students’ success rate is measured by their grades, which can determine if the student understands the material. Engagement is measured by observing whether or not the students are asking questions, volunteering information, working well with others, paying attention in class, and participates actively in discussions. The two research questions guided the study:1. Does the use of a merge cube in the science classroom improve participants’ success rate in learning science? and 2. Does using a merge cube increase …