Skill-Builders: Improving Middle School Students’ Self-Beliefs for Learning Mathematics

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 2156759X0801100
Author(s):  
Lia D. Falco ◽  
Hugh Crethar ◽  
Sheri Bauman
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
School Counselor ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Attitudes Toward Mathematics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
School Students ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Learning Mathematics ◽  
Students Attitudes

This article presents findings from a pilot study that examined the effect of a school counselor-led intervention, using the “Skill-Builders” curriculum, on middle-school students’ attitudes toward mathematics learning. Results from the current study demonstrated that students who received the Skill-Builders curriculum had significantly higher posttest scores on a measure of attitudes toward mathematics learning, including self-confidence, value, enjoyment, and motivation. Females in the Skill-Builders group improved significantly more than their male classmates. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Psychometric properties of an inventory to determine the factors that affect students’ attitudes toward mathematics

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myint Swe Khine ◽  
Ernest Afari
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Attitudes Toward Mathematics ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
School Students ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Para Determinar

Abstract: This study explored the reliability and validity of the inventory that measures attitudes toward mathematics among middle school students. The original version of Attitudes toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) was adapted and translated into Arabic language and administered to middle school students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The data were analysed to establish the reliability and construct validity as well as the factor structure of the instrument. Our results showed that four factor model was the best fit using confirmatory factor analysis. The findings from this study indicated that the translated version of the inventory can be effectively used in Arabic speaking countries. Propiedades psicométricas de un inventario para determinar los factores que afectan a las actitudes de los estudiantes hacia las matemáticas Resumen: El presente artículo analiza la fiabilidad y validez del inventario que mide las actitudes hacia las matemáticas entre los estudiantes de secundaria. La versión original de las actitudes hacia la Matemática Inventory (ATMI) fue adaptado y traducido al árabe y se administró a los estudiantes de secundaria en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos. Los datos se analizaron para establecer la fiabilidad y validez de constructo, así como el factor de estructura del instrumento. Nuestros resultados muestran que el modelo de cuatro factores fue el mejor ajuste en el análisis factorial confirmatorio. Los resultados de este estudio indican que la versión traducida del inventario puede ser utilizado con eficacia en países de habla árabe.

Changes in Middle School Students’ Motivation Toward Physical Education Over One School Year

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zan Gao ◽  
Amelia M. Lee ◽  
Melinda A. Solmon ◽  
Tao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Future Research ◽  
School Students ◽  
Task Values ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Over Time

This study investigated the relationships and mean-level changes of middle school students’ motivation (expectancy-related beliefs, task values, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancy) toward physical education over time, and how gender affected students’ motivation. Participants (N = 206) completed questionnaires over a 1-year period: once in the sixth and seventh grades and again in the seventh and eighth grades. Results yielded that self-efficacy and task values were positive predictors of students’ intention across cohorts. The mean levels of self-efficacy decreased over time for students in Cohort 1 (across sixth and seventh grades). However, results revealed a consistent decline in the mean levels of other motivational variables for both cohorts. No gender differences emerged for the variables. The findings are discussed in regard to the implications for educational practice, and future research areas are presented.

Middle School Students’ Expectations about Counseling

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 2156759X0701000
Author(s):  
Cheryl Moore-Thomas ◽  
Robert W. Lent
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Counseling Services ◽  
Late Adolescent ◽  
School Students ◽  
Counseling Expectations

Although counseling expectations have been studied in late adolescent and adult samples, little is known about younger adolescents’ openness to counseling and perceptions of the counseling process. In this study, 329 middle school students completed the Expectations About Counseling Questionnaire–Brief Form (Tinsley, 1982). An exploratory factor analysis indicated support for a two-factor structure, consisting of expectations about (a) the student's role and (b) the school counselor's role. Implications are considered for future research and practical efforts to enable young adolescents to benefit more fully from responsive counseling services.

scholarly journals The Use of the Interactive Whiteboard in Mathematics and Mathematics Lessons from the Perspective of Turkish Middle School Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
Nezih Onal ◽  
Cennet Gologlu Demir
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Mathematics Education ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Interactive Whiteboard ◽  
School Students ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Education In Turkey

It is a great paradox that despite the great importance attached to mathematics education in Turkey, high failure rates are observed among Turkish students in mathematics. For this reason, new applications are implemented in the field of mathematics education in Turkey. One of these applications is the use of technology in mathematics education. Thus, this research aimed to determine the attitudes and opinions of the middle school students towards the use of the interactive whiteboard, which is among the technologies used in mathematics and mathematics lessons. The research is based on a mixed-method research design in which both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The quantitative part of the study was conducted with 726 students, selected via the convenience sampling method, in 4 different central schools affiliated to the Ministry of Education (MNE) in the Karabük province during the 2015-2016 academic year, while the qualitative part was carried out with 20 participants determined on a voluntary basis. The research data were obtained from the “Attitude Scale towards Mathematics”, the “Interactive Whiteboard Attitude Scale” and the semi-structured interviews. It was found that the participants in the survey had a positive attitude towards the use of the interactive whiteboard in mathematics lessons and that they were positively affected by the interactive whiteboard in learning mathematics. In addition, it was concluded that participants' attitudes towards mathematics and the use of the interactive whiteboard was above average. It was also found that the male students’ attitudes towards the interactive whiteboard were more positive than that of the female students, and the level of positive attitude towards mathematics decreases as the class level increases accordingly. Finally, a low positive correlation was found between students' attitudes towards mathematics and the interactive whiteboard.

Developing Number Sense on the Number Line

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 448-451
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Bay
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
Rational Numbers ◽  
Number Line ◽  
School Students ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Learning Mathematics ◽  
And Algebra

One of the most important lessons that I have learned as a teacher is that seemingly boring problems on paper can come alive if I can find a way to lift them off the page. This transformation took place when the number line in my classroom became a brightly colored rope that stretched the length of the room, held by a student at each end. I first saw this idea as an approach to help young children order numbers from 1 to 10, then adapted it for middle school students. The scope of the activity eventually expanded to include explorations of large numbers, rational numbers, and algebra. As I saw improvement in students' conceptual understanding and their enjoyment of the life-sized number line, I used it more often in my classroom. I also found that the activities with the number line involved communication, reasoning, and justification— important processes in learning mathematics (NCTM 1989, 2000).

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