Barksdale, C., Peters, M. L., & Corrales, A. (2021). Middle School Students’ Perceptions of Classroom Climate and Its Relationship to Academic Achievement. Educational Studies, 47(1), 84–107.
This study examines the relationship between academic success and middle school students’ perceptions of the learning environment. The authors employed a sequential mixed-methods approach to collect data from a purposeful sample of 428 middle school students in a large southeastern Texas school district.
The Learning Environment Inventory (LEI) was used to assess students’ perceptions of the classroom atmosphere. They helped measure cohesion, satisfaction, and support among students. The study revealed the relationship between the environment and students’ academic performance. This article is useful as it focuses on the psychological factors that are crucial to address to improve the educational system.
Fazal, M. & Bryant, M. (2019). Blended Learning in Middle School Math: The Question of Effectiveness. Journal of Online Learning Research, 5(1), 49–64. Waynesville, NC, USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Web.
This study examines the effectiveness of blended learning in middle school mathematics. The authors conducted a literature review on the effectiveness of blended learning in the K-12 system. The results obtained showed significant differences in the performance of students in different areas. The authors then conducted a quasi-experimental study with 7th-grade math students in a large urban school district in the southwestern United States.
The study found no significant difference in math achievement between students who received instruction through a blended learning model and those who received instruction through a traditional face-to-face model. This source is important because it provides a comprehensive assessment of the problem.
Magalhães, C. L., Sprott, R. A., & Rider, G. N. (2022). Mental health practice with LGBTQ+ children, adolescents, and emerging adults in multiple systems of care. Rowman & Littlefield.
This book offers an overview of the risk factors affecting young LGBTQ+ individuals. The book also includes research on discrimination and the protection of LGBTQ rights within the educational system. The authors provide valuable insights into pertinent theoretical and developmental frameworks, highlighting the importance of an interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach for young LGBTQ+ clients. The book also includes practical strategies for working with LGBTQ+ youth in multiple systems of care, such as schools, juvenile justice systems, and child welfare systems. This study can be used to assess the risks and threats that hinder student academic performance.
Sahlberg, P., & Doyle, W. (2020). Let the children play: For the learning, well-being, and life success of every child. Oxford University Press.
According to this book, the fundamental catalyst for revolutionizing education and providing children with the optimal foundation for their future lies in the incorporation of both intellectual and physical play. The book asserts that play is a critical component in achieving this goal. It provides a range of approaches and strategies that can be implemented to enhance the educational system.
Additionally, the book asserts that play is a fundamental element of the human condition and is essential in equipping schoolchildren with the skills they need to succeed. The authors present research breakthroughs and case histories that reveal how play can help children learn more effectively, lead healthier lives, and experience greater fulfillment. They also discuss how play can help children develop social skills and emotional intelligence, as well as enhance their creativity and innovation. This source is useful because it provides interactive teaching strategies that have a positive impact on learning outcomes.
Varela, D. G., & Fedynich, L. (2020). Leading schools from a social distance: Surveying South Texas school district leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. National Forum of Educational Administration and Supervision Journal, 38(4), 1-10. Web.
This article reports on a survey of school district leaders in South Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors examine how these leaders responded to the pandemic and how they adapted their leadership practices to meet the challenges posed by social distancing measures. The authors also discuss the implications of their findings for educational leadership more broadly. This article is crucial for understanding the changes that have occurred in the educational system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Freire, P. (2018). Pedagogy of the Oppressed: 50th Anniversary Edition. Bloomsbury Publishing.
This book is a classic text in critical pedagogy, having been influential in education and social justice circles for over 50 years. The author argues that traditional education is oppressive and that true liberation can only be achieved through a process of critical consciousness-raising that empowers students to become agents of change in their own lives and communities. The book has been translated into numerous languages and has been widely read by educators and activists worldwide. The book is important because it provides the foundation for the pedagogical strategies and approaches needed to maximize student achievement.
Texas Education Agency. (2021). State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Resources. Web.
This website provides resources for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), which are standardized tests administered to students in Texas public schools. The website includes information about the tests themselves as well as resources for teachers and parents to help students prepare for them.
Texas Education Agency. (2021). Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR). Web.
This website provides access to the Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR), which are annual reports on the performance of Texas public schools and districts. The reports include information on student demographics, test scores, graduation rates, and other indicators of school performance.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2021). The Condition of Education: Public School Expenditures. Web.
This report provides data on public school expenditures in the United States. The report includes information on per-pupil spending by state and by the district, as well as trends in spending over time. The report also contains information about how public school spending compares to other areas of government spending.