Running head: ACTION RESEARCH: ANALYZING DATA, PRESENTING RESULTS, AND PLANNING NEXT STEPS
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Action Research: Analyzing Data, Presenting Results, and Planning Next Steps
Teresa G. Lubas
American College of Education
RES 5173 Research Methods
Dr. Bernie Mulvaney
June 14, 2020
,ACTION RESEARCH: ANALYZING DATA, PRESENTING RESULTS, AND PLANNING NEXT STEPS 2
Action Research: Purpose, Problem Statement, Questions and Literature Review
While in America the prevailing philosophy is that all children can learn. The data
continues to demonstrate that across America; Black students are still underperforming all other
student sub-groups when compared to their white student counterpart in math and reading. While
all children in America deserve to receive the highest level of education regardless of their
socioeconomic status, ethic, racial or religious background, “the substantial gap in educational
achievement between Black and White children is one of the most pernicious problems facing
American society (Burchinal, Steinberg, Friedman, McCartney, Crosnoe, & McLoyd, 2011, p.
1404).” By focusing on evidence based instructional practices, specific learning styles of African
American students and the implementation of culturally relevant curriculum within classrooms;
closing the academic achievement gap should be the goal of every school District across
America. As our area continues to grow into a more diverse community our school and educators
must learn how to meet the needs of our black student subgroup. Taylor, Kumi-Yeboah, &
Ringlaben (2016, p. 42), state that there is a significant “need to reform teacher training and
multicultural education to make it an integral part of teaching and learning at all levels of
education.” And that it is through continual professional development and the use of research
based practices that school districts and educators can understand how ones “culture and learning
styles influence students background framework, whereby it impacts their response to learning
(Taylor, Kumi-Yeboah, & Ringlaben, 2016, p. 42).” Educational leaders bear the enormous
responsibility to ensure that all students are prepared for the 21st century world of working which
is inclusive of students from all cultural and racial backgrounds and in order for this to occur
there cannot be an academic achievement gap between any student groups; specifically between
the black and white student group population.
, ACTION RESEARCH: ANALYZING DATA, PRESENTING RESULTS, AND PLANNING NEXT STEPS 3
Purpose
The purpose of this action research is to investigate what research based practices will
equip our teachers to support and positively impact the learning of our black student population
group to effectively close the academic achievement gaps in the intermediate grade levels in
math between our Black and white student groups. According to Pat Guild (1994, p. 16),
“cultures do have distinctive learning style patterns, but the great variation among individuals
within groups means that educators must use diverse teaching strategies with all students.” In the
article, “The Culture/Learning Style Connection, Guild (1994, p.16) goes on to state that “in
order to give every child the ability to succeed in school will depend upon a full understanding of
one’s students cultural and learning styles.” As educators we must begin to understand that the
first step in teaching our students is to develop an awareness and understanding how our
students’ culture and learning styles impact their learning. The second step is to establish a
school climate where teachers are equipped with research-based professional practices which
will include the specific learning styles of African American cultures and culturally relevant
curriculum materials. It is my goal, through this research that I can equip my teachers with the
ability to meet the academic and social and emotional needs of their students through cultural
understanding, learning styles and classroom strategies to close the mathematical achievement
gap between our student population groups.
Problem Statement
According to the state of the Florida’s Department of Education; the assessment data for
Pathways Elementary (PWE) for the last 5 years demonstrates a substantial academic
achievement gap in math between the Black student subgroup and their white peer group.
1
Action Research: Analyzing Data, Presenting Results, and Planning Next Steps
Teresa G. Lubas
American College of Education
RES 5173 Research Methods
Dr. Bernie Mulvaney
June 14, 2020
,ACTION RESEARCH: ANALYZING DATA, PRESENTING RESULTS, AND PLANNING NEXT STEPS 2
Action Research: Purpose, Problem Statement, Questions and Literature Review
While in America the prevailing philosophy is that all children can learn. The data
continues to demonstrate that across America; Black students are still underperforming all other
student sub-groups when compared to their white student counterpart in math and reading. While
all children in America deserve to receive the highest level of education regardless of their
socioeconomic status, ethic, racial or religious background, “the substantial gap in educational
achievement between Black and White children is one of the most pernicious problems facing
American society (Burchinal, Steinberg, Friedman, McCartney, Crosnoe, & McLoyd, 2011, p.
1404).” By focusing on evidence based instructional practices, specific learning styles of African
American students and the implementation of culturally relevant curriculum within classrooms;
closing the academic achievement gap should be the goal of every school District across
America. As our area continues to grow into a more diverse community our school and educators
must learn how to meet the needs of our black student subgroup. Taylor, Kumi-Yeboah, &
Ringlaben (2016, p. 42), state that there is a significant “need to reform teacher training and
multicultural education to make it an integral part of teaching and learning at all levels of
education.” And that it is through continual professional development and the use of research
based practices that school districts and educators can understand how ones “culture and learning
styles influence students background framework, whereby it impacts their response to learning
(Taylor, Kumi-Yeboah, & Ringlaben, 2016, p. 42).” Educational leaders bear the enormous
responsibility to ensure that all students are prepared for the 21st century world of working which
is inclusive of students from all cultural and racial backgrounds and in order for this to occur
there cannot be an academic achievement gap between any student groups; specifically between
the black and white student group population.
, ACTION RESEARCH: ANALYZING DATA, PRESENTING RESULTS, AND PLANNING NEXT STEPS 3
Purpose
The purpose of this action research is to investigate what research based practices will
equip our teachers to support and positively impact the learning of our black student population
group to effectively close the academic achievement gaps in the intermediate grade levels in
math between our Black and white student groups. According to Pat Guild (1994, p. 16),
“cultures do have distinctive learning style patterns, but the great variation among individuals
within groups means that educators must use diverse teaching strategies with all students.” In the
article, “The Culture/Learning Style Connection, Guild (1994, p.16) goes on to state that “in
order to give every child the ability to succeed in school will depend upon a full understanding of
one’s students cultural and learning styles.” As educators we must begin to understand that the
first step in teaching our students is to develop an awareness and understanding how our
students’ culture and learning styles impact their learning. The second step is to establish a
school climate where teachers are equipped with research-based professional practices which
will include the specific learning styles of African American cultures and culturally relevant
curriculum materials. It is my goal, through this research that I can equip my teachers with the
ability to meet the academic and social and emotional needs of their students through cultural
understanding, learning styles and classroom strategies to close the mathematical achievement
gap between our student population groups.
Problem Statement
According to the state of the Florida’s Department of Education; the assessment data for
Pathways Elementary (PWE) for the last 5 years demonstrates a substantial academic
achievement gap in math between the Black student subgroup and their white peer group.
