Degree Date

12-2017

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Ed.D. Doctor of Education

Academic Discipline

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

James L. Schott, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Daniel C. Buckman, Ed.D.

Third Advisor

Tamara K. Cornwell, Ed.D.

Abstract

Think Through Math is a research based math program. One school district implemented the program to improve student performance on the state standardized assessment. After two years of implementation, 44% of middle school students in the district did not make adequate progress in math as measured by the state assessment. The purpose of my study was to determine the effectiveness of the Think Through Math program used within middle school Intensive Math classes throughout the district. Guided by research on the critical aspects of implementation, my study examined teachers’ perceptions of (a) resources used within the program, (b) the impact on student achievement and performance, and (c) instructional practices used within the classroom by the teachers to engage student learners.

From a list of 64 teachers assigned to teach Intensive Math during the 2015-2016 school year, 49 teachers agreed to participate in this qualitative case study. Additionally, 14 school administrators allowed me to conduct and use classroom observation data for my study. Triangulation of data from the teacher surveys and classroom observations revealed that teachers have some mixed perceptions about the Think Through Math program and its potential to improve student achievement. The findings of my study suggest that a more robust execution of the Think Through Math program could lead to an increase in student achievement in mathematics.

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