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The Relationship Between Teaching Approaches And Student Science Achievement For Four Racial Groups In Us Eighth Grade Classes, Su Gao Aug 2014

The Relationship Between Teaching Approaches And Student Science Achievement For Four Racial Groups In Us Eighth Grade Classes, Su Gao

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Lower science achievement and substantial racial performance gaps persist among students in the US. In the current reform of science teaching, inquiry-based science teaching is assumed effective in improving all student science learning in both scientific content and process and reducing learning gaps across racial groups. Conversely, traditional didactic science teaching is believed to be the most popular and has contributed to lower science achievement and the racial gap. These two assumptions, although central to science teaching reforms, cannot be empirically sustained in the existing literature on science teaching. Framed through the theoretical perspectives of inquiry-based instruction and culturally relevant …


Rigor And Academic Achievement: Career Academies Versus Traditional Class Structure, Linda Kyees Jul 2014

Rigor And Academic Achievement: Career Academies Versus Traditional Class Structure, Linda Kyees

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if students who attended high school Career Academy classes, as part of Career and Technical Education, showed greater academic achievement than students who attended traditional high school classes. While all participants attended schools in the same school district, and were seeking the same goal of graduation with a standard diploma, the Career Academy students had the benefit of all classes being directed by a team of teachers who helped them connect their learning to their desired career through collaborative learning projects and assignments. The traditional high school classes taught each subject independent …


Instructional Practices Of Teachers And The Academic Success Of African American Males At The Elementary Level, Donna D. Lewis Jan 2014

Instructional Practices Of Teachers And The Academic Success Of African American Males At The Elementary Level, Donna D. Lewis

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

How can teachers improve instructional practices during interactions with African American males, a demographic where reform initiatives have tried to reduce an achievement gap? This qualitative study will examine this issue from the perspective of African American male students and the teachers who teach African American male students. It will specifically focus on what instructional methods and overall beliefs contribute to the academic success of African American male students. Findings indicated that relationship building and culturally responsive teaching strategies were both critical components of improving achievement.


Gender Processes In School Functioning And The Mediating Role Of Cognitive Self-Regulation, Jamaal Matthews, Loren M. Marulis, Amanda P. Williford Jan 2014

Gender Processes In School Functioning And The Mediating Role Of Cognitive Self-Regulation, Jamaal Matthews, Loren M. Marulis, Amanda P. Williford

Department of Educational Foundations Scholarship and Creative Works

The catalysts for gender discrepancies across developmental outcomes are widely debated. This study examines cognitive self-regulation (CSR) as a mechanism for understanding gender differences in scholastic performance-both subjective school functioning and objective standardized achievement. Utilizing a national sample from the NICHD SECCYD (n= 1364), not only does CSR (i.e., attention and executive function) in 3rd grade mediate the relation between early mother-child interactions (at 54. months) and scholastic outcomes (in 5th grade), but it also predicts gender discrepancies favoring girls in grades, work persistence and socio-emotional development. Additional exploratory evidence suggests quality mother-child interactions may be more meaningful for girls' …


The Impact Of Performance Evaluations On Teachers' Instructional Practices And Student Achievement : Evidence From A Rural School District, Lee Ann Calvert Jan 2014

The Impact Of Performance Evaluations On Teachers' Instructional Practices And Student Achievement : Evidence From A Rural School District, Lee Ann Calvert

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance evaluation procedures in a local county school district to find out if the performance evaluation system influenced student achievement. Can effective teaching be linked, via evaluation tools and rubrics, to student achievement outcomes? A second focus of this research investigation was to examine the impact that the county's evaluation system had on teacher practice. Does the evaluation system provide a crucial link between student achievement and teacher performance, or do teachers view it as a formality, or worse, as a less-than-meaningful mandated exercise? This investigation will be the first step …