Meaningful Independent Practice in Mathematics

In this action research of my seventh grade mathematics classroom, I investigated how students’ explanations of math homework would improve their learning in math. I discovered these explanations can be very beneficial in helping students to improve their understanding of current skills although it did not affect all students. As a result of this study, I plan to incorporate these student explanations in my instruction next year but not as a daily expectation.

Writing In Math Class? Written Communication in the Mathematics Classroom

In this action research study of my seventh grade mathematics classroom, I investigated what written communication within the mathematics classroom would look like. I increased vocabulary instruction of specific mathematical terms for my students to use in their writing. I also looked at what I would have to do differently in my teaching in order for my students to be successful in their writing. Although my students said that using writing to explain mathematics helped them to better understand the math, my research revealed that student writing did not necessarily translate to improved scores. After direct instruction and practice on math vocabulary, my students did use the vocabulary words more often in their writing; however, my students used the words more like they would in spelling sentences rather than to show what it meant and how it can be applied within their written explanation in math. In my teaching, I discovered I tried many different strategies to help my students be successful. I was very deliberate in my language and usage of vocabulary words and also in my explanations of various math concepts. As a result of this research, I plan to continue having my students use writing to communicate within the mathematics classroom. I will keep using some of the strategies I found successful. I also will be very deliberate in using vocabulary words and stress the use of vocabulary words with my students in the future.

An analysis of the themes of environmental sustainability in the United States curriculum science content standards

This study examined how the themes of environmental sustainability are evident in the national, state and local standards that guide k–12 science curriculum. The study applied the principles of content analysis within the framework of an ecological paradigm. In education, an ecological paradigm focuses on students' use of a holistic lens to view and understand material. The intent of this study was to analyze the seventh grade science content standards at the national, state, and local textbook levels to determine how and the extent to which each of the five themes of environmental sustainability are presented in the language of each text. The themes are: (a) Climate Change Indicators, (b) Biodiversity, (c) Human Population Density, (d) Impact and Presence of Environmental Pollution, (e) Earth as a Closed System. The research study offers practical insight on using a method of content analysis to locate keywords of environmental sustainability in the three texts and determine if the context of each term relates to this ecological paradigm. Using a concordance program, the researcher identified the frequency and context of each vocabulary item associated with these themes. Nine chi squares were run to determine if there were differences in content between the national and state standards and the textbook. Within each level chi squares were also run to determine if there were differences between the appearance of content knowledge and skill words. Results indicate that there is a lack of agreement between levels that is significant p < .01. A discussion of these results in relation to curriculum development and standardized assessments followed. The study found that at the national and state levels, there is a lack of articulation of the goals of environmental sustainability or an ecological paradigm. With respect to the science textbook, a greater number of keywords were present; however, the context of many of these keywords did not align with the discourse of an ecological paradigm. Further, the environmental sustainability themes present in the textbook were limited to the last four chapters of the text. Additional research is recommended to determine whether this situation also exists in other settings.

A study of indicators discriminating between the recipients and non -recipients of the International Baccalaureate Diploma

This study examined relationships among variables in the Pre-International Baccalaureate (Pre-IB) Program admissions criteria and the Pre-IB Program course grades to discriminate between recipient and non recipient groups of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma award. The study involved a multiracial sample of 142 IB Diploma graduates between the years 1992 and 1996 from one IB magnet school. The IB school is located within an urban high school of a predominantly Black student enrollment. A discriminant function analysis found that the highest correlations between predictors and the discriminant function were 9th- and 10th-grade mathematics and 10th-grade science course grades. Ninth-grade course grades of science, 9th-grade and 10th-grade course grades of English, foreign language, and social studies, and 7th-grade Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) Reading Comprehension scores were also highly correlated to the discriminant function. The ITBS Battery and subscores of Vocabulary, Total Language, Total Work-Study, and Total Mathematics subscores in seventh grade and a grade point average from language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics in seventh grade were not highly correlated to the discriminant function. Recommendations were presented in the areas of curriculum and instruction, guidance services, student mentoring, and decision-making processes which would parallel the IB examination procedure and thereby enhance the alignment of the IB Program enabling more students to become recipients of the IB Diploma award. ^

The relationship of culturally responsive instruction and the reading comprehension and attitude of struggling urban adolescent readers

Culturally responsive instruction refers to the identification of relevant cultural aspects of students' lives and infusion of these into the curriculum. This instructional approach assumes that a culturally appropriate curriculum can potentially motivate, engage, and lead students to higher rates of achievement. This quasi-experimental study (N=44) investigated the relationship of culturally responsive instruction and the reading comprehension and attitude of struggling urban adolescent readers. The study incorporated the use of culturally responsive instruction using culturally relevant literature (CRL), the Bluford Series Novels, as authentic texts of instruction. Participants were seventh grade reading students at a Title I middle school in South Florida. After a baseline period, two different classes were taught for 8 weeks using different methods. One class formed the experimental group ( n=22) and the other class formed the comparison group (n =22). The CRI curriculum for the experimental group embraced the socio-cultural perspective through the use of small discussion groups in which students read and constructed meaning with peers through interaction with the Bluford Series Novels; gave written responses to multiple strategies according to SCRAP - Summarize, Connect, Reflect, Ask Questions, Predict; responded to literal and inferential questions, while at the same time validating their responses through evidence from the text. The Read XL (basal reader) curriculum of the comparison group utilized a traditional form of instruction which incorporated the reading of passages followed by responses to comprehension questions, and teacher-led whole group discussion. The main sources of data were collected from the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, the Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR), and the Rhody Secondary Reading Attitude Assessment. Statistical analyses were performed using Repeated Measures ANOVAs. Findings from the study revealed that the experimental participants' reading attitudes and FAIR comprehension scores increased when compared to the comparison group. Overall, the results from the study revealed that culturally responsive instruction can potentially foster reading comprehension and a more positive attitude towards reading. However, a replication of this study in other settings with a larger, more randomized sample size and a greater ethnic variation is needed in order to make full generalizations.

Didactic transposition: an example in the educative system in Costa Rica

This paper includes some fundamental ideas about the theory of didactic transposition of Yve Chevallard (1980), from which it is made an analysis of the knowledge transformation suffers from the mathematical level to the scholastic level. To demonstrate this transformation, it is analyzed the theme of integers, which is included in the seventh- grade curriculum of the educational system of Costa Rica.

Jogos cooperativos: uma proposta de educação ambiental

O presente trabalho está vinculado ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Ambiental - PPGEA/FURG e tem como tema a Educação Ambiental, a Educação Física e os Jogos Cooperativos no contexto escolar, com o objetivo de repensar a prática de Educação Física na escola a partir do desenvolvimento dos jogos cooperativos. A Educação Física é uma disciplina inserida no espaço escolar caracterizada pela presença dos esportes competitivos como conteúdo dominante e a Educação Ambiental é uma prática social que considera outros modos de constituição de relações sociais que estejam para além da lógica perspectivada pelo capitalismo e tão presente na prática dos jogos competitivos realizada nas aulas de Educação Física. A pesquisa insere-se numa perspectiva qualitativa tendo como suporte metodológico a pesquisa-ação. Ocorreu na Escola Municipal de Ensino Fundamental Mate Amargo, onde a pesquisadora possui vínculo. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram os alunos de uma turma da referida escola e a partir do questionamento ?quais os significados atribuídos aos jogos cooperativos pelos estudantes da turma 71 - sétima série (no ano de 2012 e oitava série em 2013) da Escola Municipal de Ensino Fundamental Mate Amargo, desenvolveu-se esta pesquisa. A produção dos dados ocorreu por meio da proposição de jogos cooperativos e semi-cooperativos com registros escritos dos sujeitos da pesquisa após as vivências, escrita no diário de campo da pesquisadora e a produção de uma história das aulas de Educação Física realizada pelos referidos alunos. Como instrumento de análise foi utilizado a análise textual discursiva (ATD) proposta por Moraes e Galliazzi (2007) o qual se constitui por diversas etapas num movimento recursivo de compreensão do fenômeno investigado. A partir dos dados analisados emergiram duas categorias de análise: a primeira intitula-se ?Jogos e suas múltiplas faces: o resgate do lúdico? onde foi possível analisar as percepções dos alunos diante de tais jogos, os sentimentos que surgiram, suas opiniões e aprendizados. Evidenciouse ainda o potencial lúdico existente nestes jogos propostos. A segunda denomina-se "Entre a competição e a cooperação", e são expressas suas percepções acerca destes dois elementos no jogo, demonstrando que em alguns momentos a competição se evidencia revelando talvez, as próprias vivências dos alunos em seu cotidiano, e por vezes a cooperação se anuncia confirmando a possibilidade desses jogos em impulsionar e desenvolver sentimentos de coletividade, cooperação e sentido de grupo nos sujeitos da pesquisa permitindo o encaminhamento do significado atribuído por eles aos jogos cooperativos como atividades que propiciaram momentos de diversão e prazer, acompanhados de situações em que possibilitou o exercício da cooperação, percepção do outro e da coletividade. Como aporte teórico, deu-se ênfase a autores como Loureiro (2006; 2009), Guimarães (1995;2007), Bracht (1992;2009), Orlick (1978) Brown (2002) Brotto (2001). A pesquisa mostrou que os jogos cooperativos propiciaram a emergência de atitudes cooperativas e a percepção do outro, como também foi possível apreender pelas análises um clima de diversão e prazer sentido e expressado por eles confirmando o potencial lúdico existente nestes jogos.

La importancia de la indagación en el ciclo del aprendizaje desde un modelo constructivista y su aplicación para la planificación de clase en Ciencias Naturales de 4to a 7mo de EGB

Este estudio monográfico analiza teóricamente la importancia de la indagación dentro del ciclo del aprendizaje desde un enfoque constructivista y su aplicación en las planificaciones de clase para 4to a 7mo año de educación básica en Ciencias Naturales. Tanto la indagación cuanto el ciclo de aprendizaje potencian el interés investigativo en los estudiantes y su protagonismo en la construcción del conocimiento; sin embargo, esto no se refleja en el aula de clases debido a factores como el desconocimiento por parte del docente, o el contexto en el que se desarrollan los procesos educativos; por lo tanto, esta monografía pretende responder a las siguientes interrogantes: ¿Cuál es la importancia de la indagación dentro del ciclo del aprendizaje?, ¿Cómo se integra la indagación en el ciclo del aprendizaje dentro de la planificación en Ciencias Naturales? La metodología que orientó este trabajo es la recopilación de información bibliográfica yla elaboración de propuestas de planificación para Ciencias Naturales de 4to a 7mo año de educación básica.

Relatório final de estágio pedagógico

Após todo o processo referente ao Mestrado em Ensino da Educação Física nos Ensinos Básico e Secundário, que tomou parte numa escola secundária no concelho da Amadora, mais especificamente, na Brandoa, Escola Secundária Fernando Namora, no ano letivo de 2011/2012, serve este relatório para dar como finda esta etapa. Este Estágio teve em atenção o Guia de Estágio Pedagógico, do qual constam quatro áreas: 1. Organização e Gestão do Ensino e da Aprendizagem (Área 1); 2. Inovação e Investigação Pedagógica (Área 2); 3. Participação na Escola (Área 3); 4. Relação com a Comunidade (Área 4). Assim, e tendo em conta as competências aglomeradas nestas quatro áreas de referência, foi desenvolvido, ao longo do ano letivo, um projeto com uma turma de 7º ano da já referida escola – Escola Secundária Fernando Namora. Deste relatório constarão as principais análises e reflexões, referentes a todo o trabalho desenvolvido (estratégias, obstáculos, dificuldades, relacionamento, entre outros.), ao longo do ano letivo. Finalmente, apresentarei a reflexão crítica, que pretenderá demonstrar o papel que este Estágio teve na minha formação, tanto pessoal como profissional.

The Relationship of Culturally Responsive Instruction and the Reading Comprehension and Attitude of Struggling Urban Adolescent Readers

Culturally responsive instruction refers to the identification of relevant cultural aspects of students’ lives and infusion of these into the curriculum. This instructional approach assumes that a culturally appropriate curriculum can potentially motivate, engage, and lead students to higher rates of achievement. This quasi-experimental study (N=44) investigated the relationship of culturally responsive instruction and the reading comprehension and attitude of struggling urban adolescent readers. The study incorporated the use of culturally responsive instruction using culturally relevant literature (CRL), the Bluford Series Novels, as authentic texts of instruction. Participants were seventh grade reading students at a Title I middle school in South Florida. After a baseline period, two different classes were taught for 8 weeks using different methods. One class formed the experimental group (n=22) and the other class formed the comparison group (n=22). The CRI curriculum for the experimental group embraced the socio-cultural perspective through the use of small discussion groups in which students read and constructed meaning with peers through interaction with the Bluford Series Novels; gave written responses to multiple strategies according to SCRAP – Summarize, Connect, Reflect, Ask Questions, Predict; responded to literal and inferential questions, while at the same time validating their responses through evidence from the text. The Read XL (basal reader) curriculum of the comparison group utilized a traditional form of instruction which incorporated the reading of passages followed by responses to comprehension questions, and teacher-led whole group discussion. The main sources of data were collected from the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, the Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR), and the Rhody Secondary Reading Attitude Assessment. Statistical analyses were performed using Repeated Measures ANOVAs. Findings from the study revealed that the experimental participants’ reading attitudes and FAIR comprehension scores increased when compared to the comparison group. Overall, the results from the study revealed that culturally responsive instruction can potentially foster reading comprehension and a more positive attitude towards reading. However, a replication of this study in other settings with a larger, more randomized sample size and a greater ethnic variation is needed in order to make full generalizations.

Steps to success : family-friendly guide for fifth grade : English language arts

This document is designed to: provide examples of the standards, skills, and knowledge your child will learn in English language arts and should be able to do upon exiting fifth grade ; suggest activities on how you can help your child at home ; offer additional resources for information and help.

Steps to success : family-friendly guide for fourth grade : English language arts

This document is designed to: provide examples of the standards, skills, and knowledge your child will learn in English language arts and should be able to do upon exiting fourth grade ; suggest activities on how you can help your child at home ; offer additional resources for information and help.

Steps to success : family-friendly guide for fourth grade : mathematics

This document is designed to: provide examples of the standards, skills, and knowledge your child will learn in mathematics and should be able to do upon exiting fourth grade ; suggest activities on how you can help your child at home ; offer additional resources for information and help.

Steps to success : family-friendly guide for third grade : mathematics

This document is designed to: provide examples of the standards, skills, and knowledge your child will learn in mathematics and should be able to do upon exiting third grade ; suggest activities on how you can help your child at home ; offer additional resources for information and help.

Steps to success : family-friendly guide for fifth grade : mathematics

This document is designed to: provide examples of the standards, skills, and knowledge your child will learn in mathematics and should be able to do upon exiting fifth grade ; suggest activities on how you can help your child at home ; offer additional resources for information and help.