This action research project report was conducted in order to increase motivation and engagement in elementary and middle school students through technology-supported learning environments. The study was conducted from August 27, 2012, through December 14, 2012 with 116 participating students in first-, fourth-, fifth- and eighth-grade classes. To…

The purpose of this research was to survey selected Eastern Kentucky Principals (Elementary, Middle, and High School) to collect data about stress in public schools. A stress survey (Appendix C) was sent to randomly selected elementary, middle, and high school principals located in the Eastern Kentucky region serviced by Morehead State University…

This report describes a program implemented to raise the awareness of the dramatic increases of reported academic cheating, to influence the attitudes of the targeted students towards cheating, and ultimately to reduce incidents of cheating in the targeted classrooms. The targeted populations consisted of middle school students in growing…

This report describes a project for improving classroom behavior through positive discipline. The action research will take place from September 2001 to December 2001. The targeted 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students live in the suburbs and are composed of low income, middle class, and high income communities. The problem was noted by researchers who…

This report discusses the Regular Education Initiative (REI) and how it is currently being implemented in a middle school in Illinois, how it potentially benefits students, and how to promote use of accommodations by all teachers. Accommodations and modification appropriate to the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) of nine students with…

A project was conducted to create a gender-equitable classroom that increased the engagement of all students in the industrial technology class. The targeted students were the eighth graders in a suburban middle school in a growing metropolitan area. The problem of female students' falling self-esteem, loss of confidence, rigid adherence to gender…

An action research project was designed and implemented to improve student motivation and performance levels in middle school music performance programs. The targeted population consisted of 43 eighth-grade band and choral students in two diverse suburbs of a large Midwestern city. The problem of lack of motivation to achieve high levels of…

This paper describes a program designed to compare students' attitudes towards the use of traditional and alternative assessment practices. The targeted population consisted of a second and third grade general education class, a third grade physical education class, and an eighth grade applied technology class in three communities in northern…

This report examines the stepfamily phenomenon and how stepfamilies are treated. After the introductory first chapter the second chapter provides a clear definition of what constitutes a "stepfamily" and explores some of the demographics regarding stepfamilies. Next the report examines the major issues with which stepfamilies deal. How these…

A study determined the relationship between life stress and reading comprehension test scores on the IOWA Tests of Basic Skills. Subjects, 41 middle-school students attending Lincoln School in Garwood, New Jersey, were surveyed as to the amount of life stress prevalent in their lives. In addition, the Iowa scores for reading comprehension were…

This study assessed the effectiveness of tutoring intervention for sight word acquisition and determined whether any progress was matched by improved reading fluency, reading rate, and sight word identification. Nine middle school students from Hillside, New Jersey were selected based upon teacher referral for poor reading skills. "Edward…

This report describes a program for improving student geographical skill components identified as place and orientation, cultural geography, economic geography, physical geography, and plants and animals. Middle school students in a middle class community in the midwest participated in the study. Three major categories of interventions were…

A study investigated to what extent average middle school students were able to perceive the social issues embedded in literature by Dr. Seuss. Seventy-four seventh-grade students responded to five Dr. Seuss stories in free-writing exercises, response worksheets, and question worksheets. Results showed that the majority of students (approximately…

This paper describes cooperative learning strategies to increase high school and middle school students' motivation for doing well in school. The targeted population consisted of middle school students in a physical education and science classes, and high school students in science, technology, and special education classes. Both schools are…

This report describes an intervention program for increasing mathematical achievement of African American students. Within the targeted population, it was evident that the disparity in math achievement between African American and White students was increasing each year. The targeted population consisted of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade…