Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
William W. Anderson
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
achievement motivation, arts integration, at-risk persons, educational resilience, Elementary School Mathematics, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Grade 5, Homework Super Star program, learning motivation, mathematics, mathematics achievement, parental involvement, peer relations, peer tutoring, self-esteem, urban schools
Abstract
The problem of mathematics underachievement seemed to be especially severe for at-risk students in Grade 5 at the school of this researcher. There were many causes that lead to students’ deficient academic achievement in this subject: (a) the students’ lack of motivation for learning mathematics; (b) peer relations of students; (c) the lack of pedagogical skills; and (d) the insufficient promotions of parental involvement. There was a great need for motivational strategies to be infused into the curriculum if these students were to be brought to educational or mathematical resilience.
A multitude of solution strategies to improve the mathematics achievement of students was implemented. Strategies that would increase (a) self-esteem, (b) peer relations, and (c) parental involvement were utilized. The researcher infused the arts into the mathematics program by teaching the students (a) original songs, (b) raps, (c) chants, (d) rhythm, and (e) movements that center around concepts that would be on the state exam. The students participated in classwide peer tutoring. There was a Homework Super Star program in place and parents were involved in the process.
As a result, 21 students out of 30 improved their math scores by 5 or more percentile points; 20 of the students scored above the 60th percentile on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test from Grade 4 to Grade 5. The participants received higher Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (math) scores than all classes at the school.