scholarly journals Texas–Mexico Border vs. Non-Border School Districts’ Growth Trajectory of High-Stakes Reading Performance: A Multi-Level Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shifang Tang ◽  
Zhuoying Wang ◽  
Yue Min

This study focuses on comparing the growth trajectory of border and non-border school districts regarding their fifth-grade students’ performance on a standardized reading test. Using a growth hierarchical linear model, we investigated the effect of time, school location, and their interaction on students’ reading performance through the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) reading test in five recent school years. It was found that border school students lagged behind in reading at the initial stage when STAAR was first administered. As time went by, the gap between border and non-border district students’ reading performance remained. Implications for teaching pedagogy and research are discussed regarding the preparation of border district students to become bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate.

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuoying Wang ◽  
Shifang Tang ◽  
Kara Sutton-Jones

This study compares the science achievement growth trajectories of fifth-grade students in rural and nonrural school districts in Texas. Using a growth hierarchical linear model, we explored the effects of time, school location (rural vs. nonrural), and their interaction on students’ science performance as measured by the high-stakes State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) science test over five academic years. We found that rural school students lagged in science at the initial stage when STAAR was first administered in the 2011–2012 school year. With time, the gap between rural and nonrural district students’ science performance persisted. We further added eight district-level factors that might influence students’ academic performance into the model and found that three variables (i.e., student mobility rate, percentage of students identified ELs, and teacher turnover rate) constantly influenced students’ science scores. The implications for teaching pedagogy and research are discussed regarding science education in Texas rural districts.


1980 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emil J. Haller ◽  
Sharon A. Davis

This study examined the standardized reading test scores, family socioeconomic status (SES), and teacher-assigned reading groups of pupils in 37 midelementary classrooms from four school districts. The analysis assessed: (1) the relative relationship of SES and reading test measurements with assignments to reading groups; (2) the relative degree of socioeconomic segregation resulting from grouping based on teacher judgments and reading tests; (3) the relationship of teachers’ own SES background to the extent of socioeconomic segregation in their classrooms. Little support was found for the conjecture that either pupil or teacher social class plays a major role in reading grouping in elementary schools.


2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Padeliadu Susana ◽  
Georgios D. Sideridis

Abstract This study investigated the discriminant validation of the Test of Reading Performance (TORP), a new scale designed to evaluate the reading performance of elementary-school students. The sample consisted of 181 elementary-school students drawn from public elementary schools in northern Greece using stratified random procedures. The TORP was hypothesized to measure six constructs, namely: “letter knowledge,” “phoneme blending,” “word identification,” “syntax,” “morphology,” and “passage comprehension.” Using standard deviations (SD) from the mean, three groups of students were formed as follows: A group of low achievers in reading (N = 9) including students who scored between -1 and -1.5 SD from the mean of the group. A group of students at risk of reading difficulties (N = 6) including students who scored between -1.5 and -2 SDs below the mean of the group. A group of students at risk of serious reading difficulties (N = 6) including students who scored -2 or more SDs below the mean of the group. The rest of the students (no risk, N = 122) comprised the fourth group. Using discriminant analyses it was evaluated how well the linear combination of the 15 variables that comprised the TORP could discriminate students of different reading ability. Results indicated that correct classification rates for low achievers, those at risk for reading problems, those at risk of serious reading problems, and the no-risk group were 89%, 100%, 83%, and 97%, respectively. Evidence for partial validation of the TORP was provided through the use of confirmatory factor analysis and indices of sensitivity and specificity. It is concluded that the TORP can be ut ilized for the identification of children at risk for low achievement in reading. Analysis of the misclassified cases indicated that increased variability might have been responsible for the existing misclassification. More research is needed to determine the discriminant validation of TORP with samples of children with specific reading disabilities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Novita Sari ◽  
Putri Juwita

This study aims to improve the results of learning mathematics of elementary school students SDIT Deli Insani of class V on the subject matter of fractions by using number playing card media. The from of this study is classroom action research conducted in 2 cycles, using number playing cards at SDIT Deli Insani in class V Tanjung Morawa. The subjects of this study were the fifth grade students of SDIT Deli Insani, amounting to 30 students. This action was carried out in April 2018. Methods of collecting data using observation and documentation. The data analysis used is quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results of the study showed an increase in students' ability to understand concepts from the first cycle and second cycle. Percentage of increase in pre-action results, cycle I and cycle II students' concept comprehension ability that is 13.04% for indicators identifying number forms using number game cards (dominoes) and indicators solving problems in fractional form operations using dominoes 27.26%. the success indicator in cycle II reaches 80%. Thus the application of number game cards can improve students' understanding of mathematical concepts at SDIT Deli Insani in Class V.


2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-60
Author(s):  
Juliet Michelsen Wahleithner

Background Numerous reports have highlighted problems with writing instruction in American schools, yet few examine the interplay of teachers’ preparation to teach writing, the instructional policies they must navigate, and the writing development of the students in their classrooms. Purpose This study examines high school English teachers’ instruction of writing while taking into account their preparation for teaching writing—both preservice and inservice, the instructional policies in place, and the learners in their classrooms. Setting Data used come from public high school English teachers teaching in Northern California. These data were collected in 2011–2012, when teachers were sill complying with the mandates of the No Child Left Behind legislation. Research Design I use year-long qualitative case studies of five high school English teachers to highlight various ways teachers used their knowledge of writing instruction to negotiate the pressures of accountability policies and their students’ needs as writers to teach writing. Data collected include beginning- and end-of-year interviews with each teacher, four sets of 1- to 2-day observations of each teacher's instruction of writing, and instructional documents related to each teacher's writing instruction. These data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to look for themes within the data collected from each teacher and then make comparisons across teachers. Findings from the case studies are supported by findings from a survey of 171 high school teachers who taught a representative sample of California high school students at 21 schools in 20 districts. The survey included 41 multiple-choice items that asked about teachers’ instructional practices and their perceptions of high-stakes accountability pressures and their students as writers. Survey data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and principal components analysis. Findings Findings illustrate that significant differences existed in how the five teachers approached their writing instruction. These differences were due to both the teachers’ varied preparations to teach writing and the contextual factors in place where each taught. Those teachers with more developed knowledge of writing instruction were better able to navigate the policies in place at their sites and more equipped to plan appropriate instruction to develop their students as writers. Recommendations Findings indicate teachers would be better served by opportunities to develop their knowledge of writing instruction both prior to and once they begin their teaching careers. Additionally, the findings add to an existing body of research that demonstrates the limiting effect high-stakes assessments can have on teachers’ instruction of writing.


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 834-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fen Fen Huang ◽  
Cou Chen Wu ◽  
Chang Ya Hu ◽  
Sun Shen Yang

This study examines depression in students at public high schools in Taiwan. The purpose of this study is to examine which student-level and teacher-level variables affect student depression due to teacher emotional overinvolvement and other factors. A survey instrument adapted and translated from existing surveys was distributed to 1,479 Taiwanese adolescents aged 13—15 years and 172 teachers from 10 public junior high schools in the city of Taipei. The hierarchical linear model (HLM) was used for a cross-level analysis of the data. The HLM shows that student-level measures account for most of the variance. Teacher emotional overinvolvement and core self-evaluations are the preponderant influences on student ratings. In terms of teacher-level variables, the effects of teacher involvement, teacher depression, and teacher educational background on student-level variables are strong and significant. The findings of this study recommend the development of a comprehensive counseling system for teachers and students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Charinwit Seedanont ◽  
Suphawat Pookcharoen

EFL readers tend to experience a number of challenges while learning, due to a number of factors that affect how these readers achieve their learning goals. Metacognitive strategies, referring to one’s deliberate, goal-directed control over cognitive enterprises, are considered crucial for assisting EFL learners to be able to accomplish comprehension while reading. Previous studies have enriched the knowledge of metacognitive reading strategies in EFL settings. However, only few investigations yielded statistically significant effects on learners’ reading performance. This present study hence foresees an opportunity to shed new light on this issue by focusing on EFL learners’ proficiency. The objectives of this research are twofold: exploring the effects of the metacognitive strategy instruction on the strategy awareness, and perceiving the effects of the instruction on the reading performance in taking a standardized test. Forty-three students enrolling in a private male school in Bangkok, Thailand participated in the study, lasting ten weeks. A wide range of research tools were administered: SORS, IELTS reading test, and lesson plans. The findings suggested that the students’ awareness of reading strategies used in terms of sub-categories and IELTS reading test score improved with statistical significance. Pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research studies are discussed based on the findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 366-376
Author(s):  
Noor Alfulaila ◽  
Haryadi Haryadi ◽  
Ajat Sudrajat ◽  
Nashrullah Nashrullah

Multicultural approach in Indonesian language has become an absolute necessity over the last years. This research highlights the role of multicultural culture as a means to improve writing achievement of Indonesian Language among elementary school students. This study aims at determining the effectiveness of the multicultural approach in the writing achievement of Indonesian language among fifth grade students of islamic elementary school who are grouped based on their learning motivation. This study can be catagorized as an experimental study with 2x2 factorial design. The independent variable consists of two categories, multicultural and conventional approaches. The population was  60 fifth grade students of at two private islamic schools. The data was collected using learning achievement tests and learning motivation questionnaires, and analyzed using two-way ANOVA and sheffe test. The results showed that (1) there were a gap in learning achievement between students in the experimental group and control group students; (2) there were differences in learning achievement between students with high motivation between both groups; (3) there were differences in learning achievement between low motivated students between both groups; (4) the multicultural approaches proved to be more effective than the conventional one; and (5) there was no interaction between the approaches and the learning motivation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 147
Author(s):  
Yuliana Mara Yuliantini ◽  
Aunurrahman Aunurrahman ◽  
Ageung Darajat

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>This research aimed to improve reading comprehension of public senior high school students by using Experience-Text-Relationship method. The research was done in two cycles and involved 31 eleventh-grade students of a public senior high school in SimpangDua, Ketapang in the Academic Year of 2018/2019. The researcher used observation field notes and reading tests to collect data of the study. A collaborator was involved during the observations and practices to build trustworthy of the study. The data from the observation field notes were analyzed qualitatively and the data from the reading test results were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The analysis of the observation field notes shows that the students became active and polite, had high enthusiasm in the teaching and learning processes. The analysis of the reading test results also reveals that the students had improved their reading comprehension. In conclusion, Experience-Text-Relationship method can improve the students’ reading comprehension.</p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Abstrak</em></strong></p><p><em>Penelitian bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pemahaman membaca siswa SMA negeri menggunakan metode Experience-Text-Relationship. Penelitian ini menggunakan dua siklus dan melibatkan 31 siswa kelas sebelas siswa di salah satu SMA negeri di SimpangDua, Kabupaten Ketapang pada Tahun Akademik 2018/2019. Peneliti menggunakan catatan lapangan observasi dan tes membaca untuk mengumpulkan data penelitian. Seorang kolaborator dilibatkan selama pengamatan dan praktik untuk membangun penelitian yang dapat dipercaya. Data dari catatan lapangan observasi dianalisis secara kualitatif dan data dari hasil tes membaca dianalisis dengan menggunakan statistik deskriptif. Analisis catatan observasi lapangan menunjukkan bahwa siswa menjadi aktif dan sopan, memiliki antusiasme yang tinggi dalam proses belajar-mengajar. Analisis hasil tes membaca juga mengungkapkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan pemahaman membaca siswa. Kesimpulannya, metode </em>Experience-Text-Relationship <em>dapat</em><em> membantu meningkatkan pemahaman membaca siswa.</em></p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-58
Author(s):  
Ratih Ayu Apsari ◽  
Ratu Ilma Indra Putri ◽  
Sariyasa Sariyasa ◽  
Mieke Abels ◽  
Sudi Prayitno

The present study is a part of design research in local instructional theory in a pre-algebraic lesson using the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) approach. The article will focus on recommendations for the type of pre-algebra class that supports elementary school students’ algebraic thinking. As design research study, it followed the three steps of preliminary studies, teaching experiment and retrospective analysis. The subject of the study is 32 fifth grade students of MIN 2 Palembang during the teaching experiment phase.  The data were gathered from students’ worksheets, lesson observation and interviews with the students. Data analysis was done using a constant comparative qualitative method. The results from the study indicate that pattern investigation in pre-algebra class that visualized geometrically supports the students to identify the form of the pattern and construct generalization.


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