Education Commons^™

Perceptions Of A Middle School Reconfiguration: A Descriptive Case Study, Karen Billingsley Lasker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to follow 1 principal's journey to assist the district in its reconfiguration goals, and help the school change through deep examination of district personnel's and parents' perceptions of the change process. This was done by acknowledging distinctions and differences between junior high schools, the current middle school, and the new middle school, delineated by current middle school-reform research. This study explored issues regarding the policies, personnel, decision-making strategies, timelines, and organizational structures of the new middle school.

The reconfiguration resulted in rezoning attendance zones, reconstructing the new high school, raising the new …

Science Self-Efficacy And School Transitions: Elementary School To Middle School And Middle School To High School, Brandi Lue Lofgran

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the science self-efficacy beliefs of students before and after transitions from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school. The purpose was to explore whether those beliefs changed with grade level, gender, and ethnicity. Data were collected through a modified Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (Muris, 2001), which was adapted to focus on science self-efficacy. Multiple ordinary least squares regression was used to analyze the data. All grade levels showed a clear decline in science self-efficacy after sixth grade with females, Hispanic students, and ninth graders showing the greatest decline in science self-efficacy.

Explicitly Teaching Multiple Modes Of Representation In Science Discourse: The Impact On Middle School Science Student Learning, Ryan Nixon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of explicitly teaching multiple modes of representation (MMR) on middle school students' understanding of science content and their use of MMR on a science unit test. Participants in this quasi-experimental study were seventh- and eighth-grade students enrolled in science courses taught by three different middle school science teachers. Half of the students received explicit instruction in MMR in addition to their regular science instruction; the other half received only regular science instruction. Ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between gain scores on unit assessments, …

An Evaluation Of The Back-On-Track Program To Determine Effectiveness In Increasing The Attitude And Motivation Toward School And Academic Self-Perception Of Overaged Eighth Graders To Accelerate Grade Placement For On Time Graduation, Jean R. Dickson

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to perform a program evaluation of the Back-On-Track program to determine the program's impact on overaged eighth-grade students' attitudes towards school, motivation to continue and complete a formal education, and academic self-perception. The mixed-method evaluation consisted of an experimental-comparison design that included conducting focus group interviews with and administering surveys to all consenting program participants, performing field observations, and comparing the attitudes and motivations towards school, and the academic self-perception of program participants before and after completing the Back-On-Track program.

The researcher and a trained interviewer administered surveys to and conducted focus group interviews …

A Case Study Of The Impact Of The Learning Focused Schools Model On Culture In A Middle School Setting, Jonathan Fitzgerald Kay

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was designed to evaluate the impact of the Learning Focused Schools model on culture in a middle school setting. The school used in this study is a Title I school with low student achievement. The Learning Focused Schools model was implemented to provide comprehensive school reform strategies and solutions based on exemplary practices and research-based strategies. These practices and strategies focus on five areas: Planning, Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and School Organization. The study analyzed the effects of the Learning Focused Schools model on the school culture and how that, in turn, affects the academic achievement of the students. …