Research over the past twenty years supports the teacher as the critical factor in the implementation of educational programs. The primary purpose of this mixed design study was to determine teachers' perceptions in implementing the required Algebra I program that was mandated by the state of Virginia in 1995. The research was examined through the lens of the recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM): communicating mathematically, making mathematical connections, becoming mathematical problem solvers, and reasoning mathematically. This study was limited to ninth grade Algebra I teachers in a school division in Virginia. Two Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) instruments were used in this research. The Stages of Concern (SoC) Questionnaire determined the teachers' concerns regarding implementation of the required Algebra I program. The Levels of Use (LoU) focused interview data supported the teachers' areas of concern. In addition, the grounded theory method was used to analyze the observation and interview data. Results were presented as narrative descriptions from which major categories of concerns emerged. Findings revealed that the NCTM recommendations of communicating mathematically, making mathematical connections, becoming mathematical problem solvers, and reasoning mathematically were not implemented in the required Algebra I program. Teachers were unaware that the required Algebra I program was designed to meet the needs of a changing population. This study supports the need for comprehensive and ongoing training for teachers if the needs of a more diverse population are to be realized in a required Algebra I program.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:wm.edu/oai:scholarworks.wm.edu:etd-1756 |
| Date | 01 January 2000 |
| Creators | Hervey, Regina Lynn |
| Publisher | W&M ScholarWorks |
| Source Sets | William and Mary |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects |
| Rights | © The Author |
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