Date of Award
1990
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
James J. Flynn
Committee Member
Polly Peterson
Keywords
at-risk students, attendance, contracts, cooperative learning, counseling, dropout prevention, field trips, grade improvement, individual attention, learning promotion, motivation, parent evaluations, parental involvement, positive environment, questionnaires, reading instruction, school attendance, self-esteem, self-esteem enhancement, student evaluations, teacher evaluations, teacher-student contracts
Abstract
This practicum was designed to provide a positive experience for at-risk students. The primary goal was to increase the self-esteem, motivation, and interest of students, thereby improving their grades. A second aim was to increase parental involvement in their child's education.
The writer observed students and administrated questionnaires to them. After accessing their needs, contracts between teacher and student were prepared in the forms of dispensing the following fulfillment of the contracts to students also received counseling, individual attention to reading and self-esteem enhancement classes, field trips, and cooperative learning projects were additional components of the program. Students, teachers, and parents evaluated the effectiveness of the program.
The outcome of the study was meaningful even though not every student improved the level of their overall progress. Students attended school regularly, improved grades, and increased motivation and self-esteem. Positive environment and experience helped to promote learning in students at risk of dropping out.
The most successful component of the program was the counseling sessions. The contracts were also very successful. Parental involvement was the least successful component of the practicum.