Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Claudia Chaille
Committee Member
Carolyn Buckenmaier
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
assignments, classroom preparedness, educational interventions, Grade 6-8 students, homework, homework completion, homework policies, locker management, middle school students, organizational skills, parent education, responsibility, school-home partnership, student preparedness, student responsibility, study skills, teacher collaboration, tests, time management, weekly teacher meetings
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to increase the homework completion rate of Grade 6-8 students through the teaching of responsibility and time management skills. Students’ lack of preparedness in the classroom was concerning to parents and staff. An analysis of the problem evidence indicated that there was a lack of organizational skills by the middle school students.
The writer developed a course in time management and organization skills to assist the students with balancing their school and out-of-school activities, keeping track of long and short term assignments and tests as well as daily homework requirements. Other interventions to assist with student preparedness included weekly teacher meetings to coordinate upcoming tests, projects and assignments, parent education and awareness about the homework process, and the development of homework policies.
According to the post intervention data, the homework completion rate of Grade 6-8 students did improve from 85% to 92.6%. An increase in student organizational skills such as keeping an organized locker and homework planner was noted. Organizational skills, such as locker management, can be taught in middle school through constant modeling and reinforcement both at school and in the home.