In the article “Achievement among second grade students...” research is conducted in order to evaluate if students are effected academically by their teachers training. The training that is incorporated in this research is choice theory/reality therapy training. The purpose of the article was to determine specifically if students had better achievement scores in mathematics and reading if they were taught by a teacher who participated in CT/RT training, versus those who were taught by teachers who were not trained. The research was conducted analyzing the scores of 83 second grade students. The students were used to compare achievement from those who were taught by a CT/RT trained teacher and those who were taught by a teacher who was not trained at all. In the article, it is explained that the CT/RT training used in this research “was designed to educate the teachers about how they can encourage students to have their needs fulfilled in a positive manner.” (Hale, Maola, 2011, p.2)
The 83 second grade students used in the research are from a “small rural district in Pennsylvania” (Hale, Maola, 2011, p.4). The students consisted of 39 females and 44 males. Three of the second grade teachers were not CT/RT trained and two of the teachers were CT/RT trained. The research only compared whether a teacher was trained or not trained in CT/RT, it did not take into account if they implemented their training in the classrooms. So the study was straight forward and that helped achieve the results quicker. Although they did include comparing results by separating genders, so that other results could be achieved. The achievement test used in this research is the Terranova Third Edition Multiple Assessments test (Hale, Maola, 2011, p.4). This t...
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...ation provided in the article promotes the idea that although teachers are trained in choice theory/reality therapy it does not have an effect on student achievement scores. Furthermore future research should focus on if the teachers actually use what they learned in CT/RT training in their classes. It could be possible that the teachers do not incorporate their training into class, and that could explain the results. Knowledge in this area could be expanded by looking at other schools. This article focuses on a study made in a small rural school, which results smaller data collected. If research is done over a larger school that has more students there will be more too learn about. More data will be collected and more information will be provided, and that results in more knowledge in the topic of the relationship between student’s achievement and teacher training.
The overall purpose of schooling is to advance one’s knowledge and skill base and through standardized testing the belief is that one’s knowledge and skill base can be assessed and analyzed, but what occurs many a times is a teacher's difficulty to expand upon the learning process due to the confinements that testing has on his/hers ability to teach. In a qualitative study performed by the Morehead State University it was determined that in a particular rural school standardized testing had implemented a limit on the amount of time that teachers were able to instruct, as well as limitations on the “instructional resources and the types of assessments teachers employed” (Thomas, 2005). Even if a teacher was content with teaching the state
Since the U.S. Congress passed the No Child Left Behind program, standardized testing has become the norm for American schools. Under this system, each child attending a school is required to take a standardized test at specific grade points to assess their level of comprehension. Parents, scholars and all stakeholders involved take part in constant discussions over its effectiveness in evaluating students’ comprehension, teachers’ competency and the effects of the test on the education system. Though these tests were put in place to create equality, experts note that they have created more inequality in the classroom. In efforts to explore this issue further, this essay reviews two articles on standardized testing. This essay reviews the sentiments of the authors and their insight into standardized examination. The articles provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that standardized tests are not effective at measuring a teacher’s competency because they do not take into account the school environment and its effect on the students.
To teach to the test or trust the child; is the question in today’s education. Over the past twenty years state curriculum standards have changed. Teachers need to make the choice on how to teach the children in their classroom. In today’s society where testing runs the educational world, a teacher must decide how to prepare students for standardized testing.
Gay, L.R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. W. (2009) Educational research: Competencies foranalysis and applications. (9th. Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN-10: 0135035015
Sherman, J., Rasmussen, C., & Baydala, L. The impact of teacher factors on achievement and
... they can trust, it will cause them to feel safe in their environment and give them a greater sense of self-worth. (Caldarella, P., Page, N., & Gunter, L., 2009) In order to enforce the use of this program, teachers must be calm and in control at all times. That is why the first step of Conscious Discipline is training teachers in the “basic powers of self control” (perception, unity, free will, love, acceptance, and intention) along with the “seven basic skills for discipline” (composure, encouragement, alertiveness, choices, positive intent, empathy, and consequences). (Caldarella, P., Page, N., & Gunter, L., 2009) These skills will cause teachers to be more conscious of themselves and able to control their emotions appropriately. It will also encourage them to be proactive instead of reactive in difficult situations. (Caldarella, P., Page, N., & Gunter, L., 2009)
Popham, James W. "Present Tests Are Not a Good Measurement of a Teacher's Effectiveness." Standardized Testing. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2011. 68-73. Print.
The achievement gap is often described as the academic discrepancy in the test scores of minority and other low-income students and the test scores in their White and Asian peers. However the gap in scores affect many different groups across many different walks of life in America. Different groups may trail behind their peers at different points in their academic careers. Classic examples are boys in their early years of schooling and girls in high school math and sciences. The differences between students from various backgrounds are more apparent on the large-scale standardized tests. The gaps in test scores more than often lead to longer-term gaps, including high school and college completion and even in the kinds of jobs these students are able to maintain as adults.
Carol’s behavior of excessive talking off subject during lessons on topics that do not interest her is directly related to Glasser’s Choice Theory. Glasser believes that when any of the five basic needs (survival, to belong and be loved by others, to have power and importance, freedom and independence, and to have fun) are not met in the classroom, in Carol’s case it is fun, then negative behaviors can occur. Glasser also believes that when these needs are met, then students are well behaved and content. Because Carol feels that the lesson is “boring and useless”, her need to have fun is not being met and she therefore misbehaves and disrupts class and talk off topic (Charles, 1999). Most likely, Carol’s negative behavior has been reinforced by altering or reducing the duration of the lesson and this is why she continues to misbehave (ABI, 2010).
Standardized testing has taken over the education realm and led to a shift in the institutional goals and values of education. In the last 40 years, standardized exams have changed; they were once used to determine the learning level of students, but now they are being used to determine the teacher’s ability. Standardized tests do not measure education quality and are incorrectly used, leading to the wrongful evaluation of teachers and the limiting of education for students by schools.
In society, education can be seen as a foundation for success. Education prepares people for their careers and allows them to contribute to society efficiently. However, there is an achievement gap in education, especially between Hispanics and Blacks. In other words, there is education inequality between these minorities and white students. This achievement gap is a social problem in the education system since this is affecting many schools in the United States. As a response to this social problem, the No Child Left Behind Act was passed to assist in closing this achievement gap by holding schools more accountable for the students’ progress. Unsuccessful, the No Child Left Behind Act was ineffective as a social response since schools were pushed to produce high test scores in order to show a student’s academic progress which in turn, pressured teachers and students even more to do well on these tests.
According to Sapona and Winterman (2002) teachers implementing this model in their classroom include six comp...
My fundamental beliefs are that adults and children should have respect for one another treating people as individuals. I believe that we should model a sense of understanding, encouragement, trust, teamwork, and perseverance in all who we come in contact with. I believe that everyone has should have the opportunity to learn in a environment that is positive and encouraging. Recognizing my fundamental beliefs I know that in the Skinner-Rogers’ dichotomy that I fall on the Rogerian side of the scale. My beliefs are consistent with that of Rogers. I am also in favor of referent power and I would like to work with the students as an interactionalist. With all of these frameworks in mind I looked at a program that most fit my beliefs and frameworks. I believe that I can initiate the program of Glasser and use it effectively in my teaching situation. Many schools and programs regularly go through a process whereby they attempt to develop a new philosophical base and a different practical approach to working with students. Jones (1987) estimated that 80% of disruptive behavior is talking to each other, 15% out of seat, the remaining 5% is spent on note passing, playing with pencils or objects. The cost of student failure is absorbed. If we are losing 30 to 50% of our time keeping on task as a result of small disruptions, I would say to you that no other problem costs you 30 to 50% of your entire school budget. In keeping this in mind, I would propose that our middle school take a look at a program developed by Dr. William Glasser, M.D. His model is consistent with my own beliefs and would fulfill the vision that our school has developed. Integrated in Dr. Glasser’s model are Choice Theory (previously termed Control Theory), Reality Therapy, and the Quality School. Choice Therapy is an explanation of behavior, Reality Therapy is a process allowing Choice Therapy principles to be operationalized, and the Quality Schools represent the application of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy ideas in Education. William Glasser’s model involves the initiation of what he calls quality schools. Glasser (1992) contends that we must offer students an education that they can see will satisfy both their immediate and future needs. Students can only learn if they view their schools as a place that is at least potentially need satisfying. If students do not perceive what we are offer...
The teacher was rated using a rubric with specific criteria in four domains including planning and preparation, the classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities (Hillsborough County Public Schools, 2012). Within each of these domains are components which are the performance factors that are relevant to classroom teachers. In domain one the components include: demonstrating knowledge of content and pedagogy, demonstrating knowledge of students, setting instructional outcomes, demonstrating knowledge of resources and technology, designing coherent instruction, and designing student assessments. The components for domain two include: creating an environment of respect and rapport, establishing a culture for learning, managing classroom procedures, managing student behavior, organizing physical space. In domain three the components included are: communicating with students, using questioning and discussion, engaging students in learning, using assessment in instruction, and demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness. There is only one component that was rated for domain four which is reflecting on teaching.
In this course I experienced an important change in my beliefs about teaching; I came to understand that there are many different theories and methods that can be tailored to suit the teacher and the needs of the student. The readings, especially those from Lyons, G., Ford, M., & Arthur-Kelly, M. (2011), Groundwater-Smith, S., Ewing, R., & Le Cornu, R. (2007), and Whitton, D., Barker, K., Nosworthy, M., Sinclair, C., Nanlohy, P. (2010), have helped me to understand this in particular. In composing my essay about teaching methods and other themes, my learning was solidified, my knowledge deepened by my research and my writing skills honed.