scholarly journals Using Large-Scale Assessments to Evaluate the Effectiveness of School Library Programs in California

Author(s):  
William W. Tarr Jr. ◽  
Stacy L. Sinclair-Tarr

This California study examined the relationship between the presence of school libraries, as defined by credentialed staffing, and student achievement, as measured by both criterionreferenced and norm-referenced assessments in both English-language arts and mathematics. Using the California School Characteristics Index to compare 4,022 schools with similar demographics at Grades 4, 7, and 10, both positive and negative statistically significant relationships were found between the presence of a school library and student achievement at Grades 4 and 7. There were no statistically significant positive relationships found at Grade 10. These findings do not support previous studies that used different methods of comparing schools with similar demographics. Also unlike previous studies, the overall effect sizes of the positive relationships were small, the average being an increase in student achievement of 2%. Factors within the school library at Grades 4 and 7 were also examined, and both positive and negative statistically significant relationships to student achievement were found.

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Roberto Zamora ◽  
Rosalinda Hernandez

This study establishes the relationship between organizational health and student achievement in English Language Arts and Mathematics in grades 3-11.  The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between student achievement as measured by student performance in the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness and organizational health.  The Spearman Rho correlation coefficient was computed to determine the strength of the relationships between student achievement and the ten dimensions of organizational health.  The findings indicated there was a positive relationship between student performance and the dimensions of organizational health with morale and goal focus exhibiting the greatest strengths.Key words:  organizational health, dimensions, accountability, school culture, organizational culture 


2011 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Camburn ◽  
Seong Won Han

Background Students’ instructional experiences—that is, their experiences working with subject matter during classroom instruction—are a major determinant of how they learn. Given the importance of classroom instruction, valid, generalizable evidence is needed by policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. Over the past two decades, a wealth of generalizable evidence on instruction has been generated by large-scale surveys administered to nationally-representative probability samples. But this vast body of research has not been systematically summarized. Purpose of the Study This article attempts to fill a gap in the research by describing evidence on instruction from all surveys conducted between 1987 and 2005 that measured instruction using nationally-representative samples. Our goal is to generate a portrait of the evidence from these surveys that identifies strengths and gaps in the literature and that summarizes what this research base says about the relationship between classroom instruction and student outcomes. Research Design Evidence on instruction was compiled and summarized in four steps: (1) all surveys conducted between 1987 and 2005 that measured instruction and were administered to nationally representative probability samples were identified, (2) manuscripts using data from these surveys were selected for review, (3) the dimensions of instruction addressed by each manuscript and other manuscript characteristics were coded, and (4) the methodology and findings of each manuscript were summarized. Findings More than half the studies used data more than a decade old; few studies examined instruction during important transition years such as sixth and ninth grade; and subject area emphasis was lopsided, with mathematics and science instruction receiving much greater attention than English/language arts and social studies. The summary also revealed a repeated finding of low-SES students receiving diminished learning opportunities than more affluent peers. We also found repeated evidence of a positive association with student achievement for six dimensions of instruction, and repeated evidence of a negative or null association with achievement for five dimensions of instruction. Conclusions More research is needed on disparities in the instructional experiences of low-and high-income students. More research is also needed on instruction at key transition points and on instruction in English/language arts and social studies. This review also suggests a need for studies that more rigorously test research questions about instruction using measures that more authentically reflect the complexities of instruction and that examine student achievement growth over longer periods of time.


Author(s):  
Pradeepa Wijetunge

School Library Development in Sri Lanka is a large scale project which covers 4000 schools and includes building construction, distribution of books, furniture and equipment and training of human resources funded by the World Bank. BOBLEP (Book Based Language Enrichment Programme) developed from the concept of reading promotion within the library project. The project not only promotes reading using the purchased books, but it also promotes production of books by school children as well as teachers. It was decided as a result of the success of the project, to expand similar reading promotion activities in general. Teacher and Teacher Librarian education programmes of Sri Lanka incorporated a variety of such activities to train reading promotion among school children. The full paper will present the history and the structure of the project and activities carried out by the teacher librarians to expand it from an English language project to a reading promotion project conducted by the school libraries. It is expected that by sharing the information of this project, other developing countries which face similar constraints in providing suitable reading material can gain useful ideas.


Author(s):  
Alberto Quílez-Robres ◽  
Nieves Moyano ◽  
Alejandra Cortés-Pascual

Academic achievement has been linked to executive functions. However, it is necessary to clarify the different predictive role that executive functions have on general and specific academic achievement and to determine the most predictive executive factor of this academic achievement. The relationship and predictive role between executive functions and their components (initiative, working memory, task monitoring, organization of materials, flexibility, emotional control, inhibition, self-monitoring) with academic achievement are analyzed in this study, both globally and specifically in the areas of Language Arts and Mathematics, in 133 students from 6 to 9 years of age. The relationship obtained in Pearson’s correlation analysis does not differ substantially between overall achievement (r = 0.392) and specific achievement (r = 0.361, r = 0.361), but task monitoring (r = 0.531, r = 0.455, r = 0.446) and working memory (r = 0.512, r = 0.475, r = 0.505) had a greater relationship with general and specific achievement. Finally, regression analyses based on correlation results indicate that executive functions predict general academic performance (14.7%) and specific performance (12.3%, 12.2%) for Language Arts and Mathematics, respectively. Furthermore, working memory and task supervision represent 32.5% of general academic performance, 25.5% of performance in Language Arts, and 27.1% of performance in Mathematics. In conclusion, this study yielded exploratory data on the possible executive functions (task supervision and working memory) responsible for good general academic achievements and specific academic achievements in Mathematics and Language Arts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 42-45
Author(s):  
Kristin E. Harbour ◽  
Evthokia Stephanie Saclarides

To support continuous professional development model in the teaching and learning of mathematics, many districts and schools have begun hiring elementary mathematics coaches and/or specialists (MCSs). However, limited large-scale empirical research exists that determines how the use of MCSs affect student learning and achievement. Kristin E. Harbour and Evthokia Stephanie Saclarides begin to fill in this gap by using data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress to explore the relationship between the presence and responsibilities of elementary MCSs and 4th-grade student achievement in mathematics. Based on their findings, they share practical implications for districts and administrators to consider.


Author(s):  
Mahama, Inuusah ◽  
Kwaw, Regine ◽  
Mensah, Kwame Jonathan ◽  
Acheampong, Ebenezer ◽  
Marfo, Richard

Aims: This study sought to explore the moderating role of gender in the relationship between creative thinking and academic performance in English Language and Mathematics among Junior High School students in the Aboom Circuit, Cape Coast. Study Design: The design for the study is correlational espousing the quantitative approach. The study was guided by two research hypotheses, which were tested using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and Andrew F. Hayes Moderation Process. The instruments for the data collection were Kumar, Kemmler and Holman (1997) Creativity Styles Questionnaire-Revised (CSQ-R) and standardised-type test developed by experts in the various subject areas. Results: The study revealed significant relationship between creative thinking and academic performance of students (English Language: r=.432, n=140, p=0.05, p=.003, 2-tailed; Mathematics: r=.401, n=140 p=0.05, p=0.000, 2-talied). The study further revealed that gender moderated significantly in the relationship between creativity and academic performance (English Language: b=-.276, t=-2.398, CI= -.485, -.088; Mathematics: b=-.300, t=-2.198, CI= -.564, -.070). As such, male respondents had higher creative thinking effect in English Language and Mathematics than female respondents (b=.371, t=4.608, CI [.212, .530; b=.219, t=2.286, CI [.030, .407]). Conclusion: Creative thinking indeed relates to performance, as such, it was recommended  that creative thinking should be nurtured among all students in J.H.S. In addition, stakeholders in education should consider including creative thinking in the curriculum and pay special attention to nurturing creative think in female students so that they could match up with their male counterparts.


Author(s):  
Cynthia R. Houston

Two consultants from Western Kentucky University developed a proposal for and then assisted with the implementation of English Language Arts Library Classrooms in a private Spanish school near Barcelona, Spain. The intent of the project was to enhance the English instruction in the primary grades program at the school. The project involved field observations and a literature review of school libraries in Spain, proposal development, technical assistance, and training in library organization, administration and collection development.


Author(s):  
Cláudia Sousa Mota ◽  
Bernardete Francisco

School libraries have no limits, no boundaries, not even for those in rural areas, where cultural opportunities are scarce. In such cases, school libraries themselves become THE opportunities, THE hearts/souls of institutions, HOME for students and teachers engaged in a major journey with other European fellows. This is the story of “Yourope: You in Europe”, an Erasmus KA2 project, which, dear reader, you are about to get familiar with. By enrolling in international projects, you empower your school library and leave traces in your institution and in the citizenship sense of students. The use of the English language comes in a natural way; new ICT tools are used not as an end in themselves, but as a means to achieve certain purposes; the school library resources become fundamental to accomplish the planned tasks. Why did we choose the theme “Europe”? As we will explain in this article… because Europe is all about you and me, and not somebody else.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Phelps ◽  
Douglas Corey ◽  
Jenny DeMonte ◽  
Delena Harrison ◽  
Deborah Loewenberg Ball

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