Submitted by MARCIA ROVADOSCHI (marciar@unifra.br) on 2018-08-20T14:22:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_MauriLuísTomkelski.pdf: 2975254 bytes, checksum: ec1514a6c6ba6c65cbb3c018fbad4086 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T14:22:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_MauriLuísTomkelski.pdf: 2975254 bytes, checksum: ec1514a6c6ba6c65cbb3c018fbad4086 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-17 / The systematize research d in this Dissertation was developed in the context of the Science and Mathematics Teaching Postgraduate Program, in the mood of an academic master's degree, and it had the purpose of highlighting the perspectives of insertion of Nano science / Nanotechnology topics emphasized by professors from the areas of Mathematics and Nature sciences of the High School level and Graduation course. To do so, by following a qualitative research approach, it was carried out an analysis of the set of national legal documents (Law of Guidelines and Basis, National Curricular Guidelines, National Curricular Parameters, Educational Guidelines, Resolutions and Opinions), in which this issue is envisaged. A semi-structured questionnaire was also applied to teachers who work with different curricular components at the middle and higher levels. Based on the content analysis conducted, three main perspectives were demonstrated, through which the topics of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology have been being inserted in the teaching practices of these teachers in Undergraduate level and High School: 1) basic approach to develop a content, in which the teacher makes use of the curriculum guidelines for science and math teaching and miscellaneous resources (audio-visual and bibliographic) to plan classroom activities; 2) integrated approach to a curricular content, from which the teacher draws on diverse resources as well as information sources to develop the contents in the classroom by using them directly in the activities with the students and in the course of the content approach Curricular; And 3) a supplementary approach to classroom activities, a perspective by which the teacher seeks to supplement classroom handlings with extra class activities through which students can deepen their knowledge. This approach generally consists of conducting researches or developing seminars on knowledge applications and science and technology products. It is concluded by presenting some propositions of strategies that can be implemented by the Universities and, therefore, creating favorable conditions to provide an initial and continuous training of teachers aiming the needs of Basic and Higher Education in Brazil. / A pesquisa sistematizada nesta Dissertação foi desenvolvida no contexto do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ensino de Ciências e Matemática, na modalidade de mestrado acadêmico, e teve o objetivo de evidenciar as perspectivas de inserção de tópicos de Nanociência/Nanotecnologia destacadas por professores das áreas de matemática e ciências da natureza do Ensino Médio e Superior. Para tanto, seguindo uma abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa, foi realizada uma análise do conjunto de documentos legais nacionais (Lei de Diretrizes e Base, Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais, Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais, Orientações Educacionais, Resoluções e Pareceres), nas quais essa temática é contemplada. Também foi aplicado um questionário semiestruturado a professores que atuam em diferentes componentes curriculares em nível médio e superior. A partir da análise de conteúdo realizada, foram evidenciadas três perspectivas principais, mediante as quais os tópicos de Nanociências e Nanotecnologia vêm sendo inseridos nas práticas desses professores no Ensino Médio e Superior: 1) abordagem de base para desenvolver um conteúdo, em que o professor recorre às diretrizes curriculares relativas ao ensino de ciências e matemática e recursos diversos (audiovisuais e bibliográficos) para planejar as atividades de sala de aula; 2) abordagem integrada a um conteúdo curricular, a partir da qual o professor apoia-se em recursos diversos e fontes de informação para desenvolver os conteúdos em sala de aula, utilizando-os diretamente nas atividades com os estudantes e no decorrer da abordagem do conteúdo curricular; e 3) abordagem suplementar às atividades de sala de aula, perspectiva esta mediante a qual o professor busca suplementar as abordagens de sala de aula com atividades extraclasse por meio das quais os estudantes podem aprofundar os conhecimentos. Essa abordagem consiste, em geral, na realização de pesquisas ou desenvolvimento de seminários sobre aplicações de conhecimentos e produtos das ciências e tecnologia. Finaliza-se apresentando algumas proposições de estratégias que podem ser implementadas pelas Universidades e, dessa forma, criar condições favoráveis para proporcionar uma formação inicial e continuada de professores direcionada às necessidades da Educação Básica e Educação Superior no Brasil.

Submitted by Neusa Fagundes (neusa.fagundes@unioeste.br) on 2018-02-19T12:50:53Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Elhame_Cararo2017.pdf: 3429040 bytes, checksum: 601763d3edfb3722a71b7805dffb5306 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-19T12:50:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Elhame_Cararo2017.pdf: 3429040 bytes, checksum: 601763d3edfb3722a71b7805dffb5306 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-02 / Mathematical Modeling has been the focus of research by teachers and researchers dedicated to Mathematics Education; this fact is reflected in numerous publications both in periodicals and in annals of events. However, doing Mathematical Modeling in Mathematical Education implies, in most cases, a change of position on the part of the teacher who needs to conceive Mathematics as a living and dynamic science, the produce of human constructions, interests and social needs. It is evident, therefore, the need to think of continuous training models that provide, for example, a reflection on the pedagogical practices developed and the different possibilities of approaching Mathematical contents. In this direction, there is a project of teacher training in Mathematical Modeling that is developed in several nuclei of the state of Paraná, coordinated by a teacher of the Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, UNIOESTE, campus of Cascavel. The project proposes to include teachers in an environment where they can review, describe, explore, share and negotiate their personal constructs and their implicit theories, surpassing the existing training models, proving to be an important locus of this research proposal. In this context, we establish our research question: what sense do the participating teachers attribute to the continued formation in Mathematical Modeling in Mathematical Education? It is been refined by the phenomenological vision and requires a study of the object, through the collection of data, understandings and interpretations of the phenomena presented. The data produced for the research were been collected through audio recordings of the training sessions realized every fifteen days at one of the schools in the Municipality of Francisco Beltrão - Paraná, and the collection of testimonies of the teachers participating in the training. For the optimization of the data analysis, we use Atlas.ti software. In the period from October 2015 to July 2016, during the period described in this dissertation, eleven teachers from Elementary School (final years) and High School participated in the training. The research brings contributions to the area of teacher training in Mathematical Modeling, evidencing aspects relevant to what concerns the structure and model of formation, the affective, professional and formative relationships in the continuous formation, the mathematical knowledge of the teacher and the Mathematical Modeling and intends to contribute to the Modeling being disseminated effectively in classrooms, providing a more dynamic and meaningful teaching of Mathematics that searches the critical and social formation of the student through the mathematical knowledge and its relationship with the context lived. / A Modelagem Matemática tem sido foco de investigação por parte de professores e pesquisadores que se dedicam à Educação Matemática; esse fato se reflete em inúmeras publicações tanto em periódicos como em anais de eventos. Entretanto, fazer Modelagem Matemática na Educação Matemática implica, na maioria das vezes, em uma mudança de postura por parte do professor que precisa conceber a Matemática como uma ciência viva, dinâmica, fruto das construções humanas, dos interesses e necessidades sociais. Evidencia-se, assim, a necessidade de serem pensados modelos de formações continuada que proporcionem, por exemplo, a reflexão sobre as práticas pedagógicas desenvolvidas e as diferentes possibilidades de abordagem dos conteúdos Matemáticos. Nessa direção, há um projeto de formação de professores em Modelagem Matemática que se desenvolve em diversos núcleos do estado do Paraná, coordenado por um docente da Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, UNIOESTE, campus de Cascavel. O projeto se propõe a inserir os professores em um ambiente em que possam rever, descrever, explorar, compartilhar e negociar seus constructos pessoais e suas teorias implícitas, superando os modelos de formação vigentes, mostrando-se como importante lócus da proposta desta pesquisa. Nesse contexto, estabelecemos nossa interrogação de pesquisa: que sentido atribuem os professores participantes à formação continuada em Modelagem Matemática na Educação Matemática? Que se afina com a visão fenomenológica e exige um debruçar-se sobre o objeto, por meio de coleta de dados, compreensões e interpretações dos fenômenos apresentados. Os dados produzidos para a pesquisa foram recolhidos, por meio de gravações de áudio dos encontros de formação realizados quinzenalmente, em um dos colégios do Município de Francisco Beltrão – Paraná, e da recolha de depoimentos dos professores participantes da formação. Para a otimização da análise dos dados nos utilizamos do software Atlas.ti. Participaram da formação no período de outubro de 2015 a julho de 2016, período descrito nessa dissertação, 11 professores do Ensino Fundamental (anos finais) e do Ensino Médio. A pesquisa traz contribuições para a área de formação de professores em Modelagem Matemática, evidenciando aspectos relevantes ao que concerne a estrutura e modelo de formação, as relações afetivas, profissionais e formativas na formação continuada, ao conhecimento matemático do professor e à Modelagem Matemática e pretende contribuir para que a Modelagem seja disseminada de forma efetiva nas salas de aula, proporcionando um ensino da Matemática mais dinâmico e significativo que busque a formação crítica e social do aluno por meio dos conhecimentos matemáticos e a sua relação com o contexto vivido.

Submitted by Neusa Fagundes (neusa.fagundes@unioeste.br) on 2018-09-11T17:39:28Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Adan_Martens2018.pdf: 1533576 bytes, checksum: 0391ee72495c65dab716032badd11b0c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-11T17:39:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Adan_Martens2018.pdf: 1533576 bytes, checksum: 0391ee72495c65dab716032badd11b0c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Over the last two decades, the debate on Mathematical Modeling in Mathematical Education has advanced. It can be noticed from: the growing number of research reports through papers submitted in journals; the specific Modeling events, which has brought together a large number of researchers teachers, and students; in Brazil, the line modeling research in education and its dissemination through continuing education courses, postgraduate courses and the inclusion of Modeling disciplines in the curriculum of undergraduate courses. All this together, certifies this advance and strengthening of this trend in Mathematics Education. However, regarding classroom, the adoption of Modeling by teachers has not followed this movement. This initial concern was turned into a yearning to understand the phenomenon - teacher training in Modeling in the context of research - we assume a phenomenological research attitude, in which we seek to go back to the things themselves, to see what is not immediately visible of the phenomenon investigated, without preconceptions and previous theoretical conceptions. Based on the question, " According to the participating teachers, What is shown by the continuous training in Modeling developed in the scope of research,?" We proceeded with the collection of statements, being significant subjects of this research, seven teachers of Mathematics of Basic Education who experienced the phenomenon investigated. In order to optimize the analysis process, we rely on Atlas.ti software. The statements were transformed into written texts and inserted into this analysis tool. In order to find a sense, we proceeded with repeated readings having as the north the question of research assumed. From this process, one hundred and seven units of meaning were highlighted. Continuing the process of reduction, articulating convergences between units, we established five categories expressed as: 1) "C1 - Duration, context of formation and school"; 2) "C2 - Training and practice of Modeling" 3) "C3 - Training comprehension"; 4) "C4 - Teacher's Contact with Modeling"; 5) "C5 - On the role of the trainer in formation" who have been described and interpreted. After the hermeneutic analysis seeking to transcend what is described in the categories, among other things, it is shown that the training offered in the context of research, which is done by leading experts, researchers in the field, seems to have the same impact as other short courses. It reveals the need for formations be broader in order to overcome teachers' misunderstandings about Modeling and, in addition, be planned beyond research. It also discloses that approaches need to be rethought in order to enable teachers to build an autonomous posture and manner of working with Modeling in the classroom. It is pointed out to the need for the creation of permanent models of Modeling that allows an approximation between the researchers in the Modeling and the teachers of Basic Education. / Nas últimas duas décadas, tem avançado o debate sobre Modelagem Matemática na Educação Matemática. O crescente número de divulgações de pesquisas por meio de papers submetidos em periódicos, os eventos específicos de Modelagem, que tem reunido grande número de pesquisadores, professores e estudantes, a linha de pesquisa de Modelagem no ensino brasileiro, a sua disseminação por meio de cursos de formação continuada, cursos de pós-graduação e a inclusão de disciplinas de Modelagem na grade curricular dos cursos de graduação certifica esse avanço e o fortalecimento dessa tendência na Educação Matemática. No entanto, no âmbito da sala de aula, a adoção da Modelagem pelos professores não tem acompanhado esse movimento. Diante dessa inquietação inicial, buscamos compreender o fenômeno – formação de professores em Modelagem em contexto de pesquisa – assumimos uma postura fenomenológica de investigação, em que se busca ir-às-coisas-mesmas, ver o que não está visível imediatamente do fenômeno investigado, sem pré-conceitos e concepções teóricas prévias. Norteados pela interrogação de pesquisa: “O que se mostra da formação continuada em Modelagem desenvolvida no âmbito de pesquisas, segundo os professores participantes?”, procedemos com a coleta de depoimento, sendo sujeitos significativos dessa pesquisa, sete professores de Matemática da Educação Básica que vivenciaram o fenômeno investigado. Visando otimizar o processo de análise, contamos com o auxílio do software Atlas.ti. Os depoimentos foram transformados em textos escritos e inseridos nessa ferramenta de análise, em seguida, procedemos com repetidas leituras a fim de encontrar um sentido do dito, tendo como norte a interrogação de pesquisa assumida. Desse processo foram destacadas cento e sete unidades de significado. Prosseguindo o processo de redução, articulando convergências entre as unidades, estabelecemos cinco categorias, expressas como: 1) “C1 - Duração, contexto da formação e a escola”; 2) “C2 - A formação continuada e a prática de Modelagem” 3) “C3 - Compreensões sobre a formação”; 4) “C4 - Contato do professor com a Modelagem”; 5) “C5 - Sobre o papel do formador na formação continuada” que foram descritas e interpretadas. Após a análise hermenêutica buscando transcender o descrito nas categorias, dentre outras coisas, mostra-se que a formação oferecida em contexto de pesquisa, que é feita pelos principais especialistas, os pesquisadores da área, parece ter o mesmo impacto que outras formações de curta duração. Revela sobre a necessidade de as formações serem mais amplas a fim de superar as incompreensões dos professores sobre a Modelagem e, além disso, serem planejadas para além de pesquisas. Ainda, que as abordagens precisam ser repensadas a fim de possibilitar aos professores construírem uma postura autônoma e desenvolverem a Modelagem em sala de aula por conta própria. É apontado viii para a necessidade da criação de coletivos permanentes de Modelagem que propiciem uma aproximação entre os pesquisadores em Modelagem e os professores da Educação Básica.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The expansion of scientific and technological process has been caused many changes in the society behavior leading to changes in school practices. In Brazil we are seen a great increase in scientific production of knowledge, in many fields, including education. Furthermore, the country's scientific production is based mainly on higher education institutions and their graduate programs through their theses, dissertations and papers. So, teachers must keep updated their pedagogical practices in relation to this new knowledge. Based on this, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the production of knowledge in the practices of teachers of the areas of Science, Mathematics and Physical Education in public schools of Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil and to evaluate the scientific production of physical education related to the school context. We analyzed the techniques used by teachers to keep up actualized, how are they chosen the contents of the classes, if they use the academic production (theses, dissertations and papers) in the planning and execution of their practices and which are the references used in interventions in the classroom. In this research it was employed a questionnaire with 26 open and closed questions with teachers from public municipal Uruguaiana, of the disciplines of sciences, mathematics and physical education. Participated in our research 14 teacher of mathematics, 17 of sciences and 17 of physical education. Based on the teacher responses, we found that the academic production does not influence directly theirs practices and often the university contributes to the increase distance between higher education and basic education. However, teachers are mostly concerned with staying current with new knowledge. Regarding the development of disciplines, it was identified that teachers try to adapt the contents to the students reality, but there is some problems like: the lack of students interest, little family involvement in school daily, also structural and administrative problems. Furthermore, an increased demand on the teachers work is not followed by an improvement in the working conditions. Regarding the scientific production of physical education, our research was conducted exclusively in online field. We just analyzed the research groups, graduate programs Strictu Sensu and theses and dissertations of the physical education area. It was found that the regions south and southeast are the centers of knowledge production, and we also found a major expansion in groups, programs and theses from the 2000. We also identified the public institutions of higher education as the main research centers of physical education in all aspects evaluated in this study. Therefore, the scientific production related to the school needs to be reviewed in his spread and in their content so that they are adequate to reality, because the arrival of new knowledge in the school environment is crucial to improve teaching in schools. / A ampliação do processo científico e tecnológico vem causando várias transformações no comportamento da sociedade e isso leva a mudanças na educação e práticas escolares. No Brasil vêm ocorrendo um incremento da produção científica em diversos campos do conhecimento, entre eles a educação. Além disso, a produção científica está baseada principalmente nas instituições de ensino superior e seus programas de pós-graduação através de suas teses, dissertações e artigos em periódicos indexados. Neste contexto, ao professor cabe manter atualizadas suas práticas pedagógicas em relação a esses novos conhecimentos. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência da produção de conhecimento acadêmico das áreas de Ciências, Matemática e Educação Física em escolas públicas do município de Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul Brasil e avaliar a produção científica da educação física voltada ao contexto escolar. Foram analisadas as técnicas empregadas pelos professores para se manterem atualizados, de que modo são escolhidos os conteúdos das aulas, se os mesmos utilizam a produção acadêmica (teses, dissertações e artigos) no planejamento e execução das suas práticas e quais as referências bibliográficas utilizadas nas intervenções em sala de aula. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa foi empregado um questionário com 26 questões abertas e fechadas com professores da rede pública municipal de Uruguaiana, das disciplinas de ciências, matemática e educação física. Responderam o instrumento 14 professores de matemática, 17 de ciências e 17 de educação física. Constatamos que a produção acadêmica não influencia diretamente as práticas escolares e que muitas vezes a universidade contribui para o aumento da distância entre ensino superior e educação básica. Entretanto os professores estão, em sua maioria, preocupados em manterem-se atualizados em relação aos novos conhecimentos. Quanto ao desenvolvimento dos conteúdos foi identificado que os professores tentam adequá-los à realidade dos alunos, porém esbarram na falta de interesse dos mesmos, na pouca participação da família no dia-a-dia da escola e também nos problemas estruturais e administrativos. Além disso, o aumento das exigências em relação ao trabalho dos professores não é acompanhado pela melhoria das condições de trabalho. Em relação à produção científica da educação física as buscas foram realizadas exclusivamente em meio online sendo analisados os grupos de pesquisa, programas de pós-graduação Strictu Sensu e as teses e dissertações. Constatou-se que as regiões sudeste e sul são os centros de produção de conhecimento, e que ocorreu uma grande expansão nos grupos, programas e teses a partir do ano 2000. Foram identificadas também as instituições públicas de ensino superior como os principais centros de pesquisa da educação física nos três aspectos avaliados pelo estudo. Portanto, a produção científica voltada ao contexto escolar precisa ser revista tanto na forma como ela é divulgada, quanto nos seus conteúdos, de modo que estes estejam adequados a realidade, uma vez que a chegada destes novos conhecimentos no ambiente escolar é fundamental para melhorar o ensino nas escolas.

Engagement in mathematics lessons has a positive impact on student numeracy achievement. Yet special education students have experienced a significant drop in mathematics achievement from one year to the next, and this gap continues to grow. This mixed methods study examined the extent to which equal opportunities, similar to those offered to regular education students, are provided to special education students. It contributes to the body of knowledge regarding level of engagement of regular and special education students, the impact of their increased participation and engagement on numeracy achievement, and the ways to increase their level of engagement. Grounded in Kamii's theory of constructivism, Vygotsky's notion of the zone of proximal development, and Schon's reform of teaching and learning, the research questions addressed the level of participation of special and regular education students, the impact of increased engagement, and ways in which teachers can increase the level of engagement during lessons. Utilizing a concurrent nested strategy, the study utilized a sample of 375 students. The qualitative portion focused on text analysis of interview transcripts, and the quantitative portion focused on teacher/student interactions for each group. Results indicated that special education students are not as engaged in numeracy lessons, which may hinder their numeracy achievement. Findings revealed that special education students are being denied more than one-third of their deserved engagement time. Implementing more effective teaching strategies is recommended as a means to increase levels of engagement. Educators in every role may benefit from the results of this study. Social justice and positive social change is an urgent need for them in terms of quality of service.

With the implementation of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB), all schools are held accountable for student achievement. One southern US Title I school failed to meet NCLB mandated math standards for several years and was placed on program improvement. The purpose of this study was to compare math achievement of 34 students in fifth grade using differentiated instruction via Math out of the Box (MOOTB) and math achievement of 34 students in fifth grade using traditional textbook instruction. A second purpose was to determine if there was a difference between student attitudes toward math relative to confidence, value, enjoyment, and motivation. The theoretical base for this study is rooted in the works of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, Bruner's psychological theory, Piaget's concrete operational theory, and Tomlinson's differentiated instruction theory. In order to examine the differences in math achievement based on the two instructional approaches, a quasi-experimental nonequivalent (pretest-posttest) control group design was implemented with scores analyzed using the one-way analysis of covariance. The univariate analysis of variance was used to compare the differences between MOOTB and traditional fifth grade students' attitudes toward math relative to confidence, value, enjoyment, and motivation. The findings from the study showed improvements in both instructional groups on MAP posttest, but differences between the groups on math scores were not significant. The main effect for socioeconomic status was significant. A significant difference in students' attitudes toward math relative to enjoyment was noted. This study has the potential to provide school systems with alternative ways to increase student achievement which is an important implication for social change.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mandates that students be measured yearly on standardized state tests, rather than on classwork, to show adequate academic growth. During the 2007--2008 school year, 38% of eighth graders in one state failed the math portion of the Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). The purpose of this quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest control-group study was to determine if there was a significant difference in CRCT scores between at-risk eighth-grade math students receiving instruction in (a) the Remedial Education Program (REP) and in (b) the regular program. The theoretical base for this study included Piaget's concrete operational theory, constructivist theory, and behaviorist theory. In this causal-comparative experimental design, analysis of covariance was used to assess differences in eighth grade CRCT scores, controlling for seventh-grade test scores. Of the 50 students in this study, 25 received instruction in the REP model and 25 in the traditional model. Results indicated that the group that received the REP program instruction had significantly higher eighth-grade CRCT scores than the regular instruction group. Implications for positive social change include better understanding the most effective type of math instruction for at-risk students that can result in increased math achievement.

The demands of national educational reforms require high school biology teachers to provide high quality instruction to students with and without special needs. The reforms, however, do not provide teachers with adequate teaching strategies to meet the needs of all students in the same context. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to understand high school biology teachers' perspectives, practices, and challenges in relation to teaching students with special needs. This approach was used to develop a substantive model for high school biology teachers who are challenged with teaching students with and without special needs. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with 15 high school teachers in a Midwestern school district. The data were analyzed using open coding, axial coding, and selective coding procedures in accordance with the grounded theory approach. Essential model components included skills and training for teachers, classroom management strategies, teaching strategies, and student skills. The emergent substantive theory indicated that that teacher preparation and acquired skills greatly influence the effectiveness of inclusion implementation. Key findings also indicated the importance of using of a variety of instructional strategies and classroom management strategies that address students' special needs and their learning styles. This study contributes to social change by providing a model for teaching students and effectively implementing inclusion in regular science classrooms. Following further study, this model may be used to support teacher professional development and improve teaching practices that in turn may improve science literacy supported by the national educational reforms.

Elementary students in one school have shown a decline in proficient and advanced performance on statewide assessments. This decline increased for reading and mathematics achievement from 2003--2008, especially for disabled and minority students in grades 3--5. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine the extent to which differentiated instruction was implemented in instructional practices to increase student academic performance. Vygotsky's theory of constructivism, Bruner's theory of problem solving, and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences provided the conceptual frameworks for this study. The research questions focused on the instructional strategies and resources used by teachers. Data included interviews, observations, and lesson plans from 2 third-grade, 2 fourth-grade, and 2 fifth-grade teachers. Data were coded using categorical aggregation through the use of inductive analysis to identify patterns. Results included the processes used to determine ability levels, methods used to differentiate instruction, and resources used to supplement instruction. Findings revealed that teachers differentiated instruction using a variety of strategies. It is recommended that a program that features differentiated math instruction could be offered, more time could be allocated for collaborative planning, and support could be offered for classroom management. This research has the potential to effect positive social change by equipping teachers, through professional development opportunities, to implement strategies relative to their students' learning needs.

Coteaching strategies have been implemented in many of the inclusion math classrooms in an attempt to improve the achievement of students. Math achievement continues to be a concern as reported by the National Mathematics Advisory Council in 2007. Educators and previous research reported that coteaching does not improve student achievement. The purpose of this study and the research question was designed to investigate, determine, and examine if coteaching has an impact on regular education students' achievement on an algebra assessment in the eighth grade. This concurrent mixed methods design used test data from a convenience sample of 70 eighth grade students and 6 math coteachers from a small rural middle school in a southern U.S state. The students were divided into a cotaught class (experimental) and a noncotaught class (control group). The teachers' perception and implementation of the coteaching model within the inclusive classroom was determined through interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Students' achievement was measured based on math scores on a Basic Skills Algebra Assessment given at the beginning and end of 12 weeks. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to assess if differences exist on algebra achievement scores by group (control vs. treatment) and time (pretest vs. posttest). The results of the post hoc analysis, consisting of two independent sample t tests and two dependent sample t tests, revealed that significant mean differences did in fact exist on algebra achievement scores for only the experimental group suggesting that scores increased from pre to posttest. The interview data indicated that the teachers' perception of student learning was greater in the cotaught classroom. Evidence is provided to coteachers and administrators in support of implementing the coteaching model. It supports a change in students' attitudes and perceptions of other's differences as well as their ability to learn mathematics.