Elementary School District Research Articles

PENINGKATAN HASIL BELAJAR LOMPAT JAUH GAYA JONGKOK MELALUI BAN BEKAS BOLA PLASTIK

This research is a classroom action research conducted in two cycles. This study was conducted at Cokro Elementary School District Blado Batang. The subjects used in this study were students of class V Cokro Elementary School District Blado academic year 2011/2012 amounted to 20 students consisting of 16 male students - male and 4 female students. Analysis of the data used in descriptive analysis is by using percentages. Value - average test results of 20 students who performed in the first cycle was 69.25, while in the second cycle was 74.05. There is a significant increase from siklus I and II cycle that students who pass as many as 13 students with a percentage of 65%, while in the second cycle students who pass the 19 students with a total percentage of 95%. From the results obtained, the advice that can be given researchers are: 1) The media used tires and plastic ball can improve learning outcomes long jump squat style so teachers of PE use the media, 2) should be in the learning of PE teachers should more often use the media and always innovating so as to stimulate students to love the material taught in the lesson.

A Longitudinal Study of Childhood Obesity, Weight Status Change, and Subsequent Academic Performance in Taiwanese Children

This study examined the association among childhood obesity, weight status change, and subsequent academic performance at 6-year follow-up. First-grade students from one elementary school district in Taichung City, Taiwan were followed for 6 years (N = 409). Academic performance was extracted from the school records at the end of each grade. Weight and height were measured at the beginning of each grade. A weight change variable was created based on each child's weight status difference at grades 1 and 6. A multivariate linear regression model for predicting academic performance at grade 6 was developed with adjustment for individual characteristics and family factors. A latent growth curve (LGC) showed the association between changes in body mass index (BMI) and in academic performance across a 6-year period. BMI in children increased significantly across 6 years. The rate of increase in BMI over 6 years was higher for children with higher baseline BMIs than it was for children with lower baseline BMIs. However, BMI changes were not significantly associated with changes of academic performance. There was no significant relationship between initial obesity or change in weight status and subsequent academic performance. It appears that either being or becoming overweight/obese did not impact academic achievement for these Taiwanese children.

Association and Diffusion of Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies on the State and District Level*

School district wellness policies designed to reduce obesity and promote student health and well-being often lack specific requirements or any mandate that schools comply with the policy. Researchers, educators, and policymakers have called for states to take an active role in shaping district policies. The objective of this study was to determine if states with strong school-based nutrition and physical activity (PA)-related policies have stronger district wellness policies, and explore the direction of policy diffusion between states and districts. State policies and nationally representative samples of district policies for the 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 school years were obtained across 5 domains-competitive foods, school meals, nutrition education, physical education (PE), and PA-and were classified as "strong" or "weak," based on policy language, in each grade level (elementary, middle, high). Linear models estimated the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between state and district policies. In 2006-2007 and 2008-2009, district elementary school competitive food policies were stronger in states with strong policies. For policies governing competitive foods in high schools and school meals at all grade levels, mean district policy strength increased from 2006-2007 to 2008-2009 in states with strong 2006-2007 policies. States that strengthened their PE policies from 2006-2007 to 2008-2009 saw an increase in mean district PE policy strength. Across all domains, states that had weak 2006-2007 policies and made no changes saw little increase in district policy strength. District competitive food, school meal, and PE policies are stronger in states that have developed strong policies in these domains.

“A Few of the Brightest, Cleanest Mexican Children”: School Segregation as a Form of Mundane Racism in Oxnard, California, 1900–1940

In this article, David G. García, Tara J. Yosso, and Frank P. Barajas examine the early twentieth-century origins of a dual schooling system that facilitated the reproduction of a cheap labor force and the marginalization of Mexicans in Oxnard, California. In their analysis of the 1930s Oxnard Elementary School District board minutes, alongside newspapers, maps, scholarly accounts, and oral history interviews, they argue that school segregation privileged Whites and discriminated against Mexicans as a form of mundane racism. The authors build on previous scholarship documenting the pervasiveness of racism in U.S. society to define mundane racism as the systematic subordination of Mexicans that occurred as a commonplace, ordinary way of conducting business within and beyond schools. Their findings complicate narratives that emphasize complete segregation in “Mexican schools,” while acknowledging the resistance of parents and the resilience of their children.

Contribution of Drama-Based Strategies

Building on a stream of educational research that has focused on the impact of the arts on performance in traditional academic subjects, the current study investigated the impact of integrating theatre arts into the language arts and social studies curricula on fourth- and fifth-grade students' cognitive, procognitive, and prosocial development. The study employed a randomized controlled design in which twenty-eight fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms (fourteen at each grade level) at seven district elementary schools were randomly assigned to the “treatment” condition. Twenty-eight were randomly assigned to the control group. Logistic regression models were fitted to the data. The findings provided strong confirmatory evidence on the contribution of the arts in strengthening students' performance in the traditional curricular areas.

Parental Restrictions on Children's Playing Activity and Differences among Elementary School Districts

Parental Restrictions on Children's Playing Activity and Differences among Elementary School Districts

Engineering Elephants: Introducing Young Children to Engineering

ABSTRACTIn this study, the authors focused on children from 2-8 years of age and asked the simple question: what do engineers do? The number one response was: “I don’t know”, the number two response was “they drive a train.” While children are very familiar with professionals such as doctors, teachers, nurses, firefighters and policemen, they are rarely introduced to engineers. With this motivation, the authors developed a novel children’s book on engineering: Engineering Elephants. This book is an outreach tool that introduces children to the dynamic world of engineering design through roller coasters, fireworks, and a plethora of other exciting adventures. The book teaches children about relevant topics such as nanotechnology, renewable energy, and prosthetics by engaging them through an interactive journey of an elephant and his questioning of the world around him. The text was strategically developed using the language of science (asking questions) and introducing vocabulary relevant to science and math using a lyrical pattern. This presentation will highlight the development of this book as an instructional aid but also detail the response of various age groups to engineering activities presented as a companion to this book. In particular, an elementary school district in West Texas designed a 4-5th grade 3-week summer school curriculum around this book. Results from this study will have an impact on future generations by inspiring them to consider the exciting profession of engineering at an early age.

The level of health in Elementary School Students in Training and Research Areas and Evaluation of School Screening Examination Results

AIM: The research was planned in order to evaluate the level of health’s elementary schools located in Eskisehir Osmangazi University School of Medicine Public Health Department Training and Research Areas and the school health services they have been receiving for the last eight years. METHOD: 1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th grade students studying in 12 elementary schools located in the Training and Research Areas in 2009-2010 academic year were enrolled to the study. On days of the screenings, a total of 1405 students available (1405/1569: %89.5) in the schools were reached. Growth, seeing, hearing, mouth-teeth health, systemic physical examination and by consulting to the teachers, state of mind and existence of chronic diseases were researched. For each child, information containing the existence of school enrolment examination, the number of periodic examinations that have been conducted on the child, and also the results of the examination of the same year was inquired. RESULTS: 1.0 % of the students were detected as very weak, 4.8 % as weak, 75.9 % as normal, 15.8 % as overweight and 2.5 % as obese. In eye examinations, 10.5% of the students had refractive error, 6.2 % had amblyopia and 3.1% had diplopia. In the ear examination, it was determined that 48.7 % of the students had plug, 2.5 % had perforated tympanum, and 3.1 % had hearing loss. In mouth and teeth examination, it was detected that 64.8% of the students had tooth decay. All of the students who were claimed to have undergone school enrolment examination were first grade students and that examinations included examination results of this year. Health forms containing the results of school enrolment examination and periodic examinations of 2nd, 7th and 8th grade students were not found. School screening were conducted only in two district elementary schools. The eye examination results reported in the records appeared to be inconsistent with screning results. CONCLUSION: It was shown that school age children had significant undiagnosed health problems. It is concluded that school health services are inadequate in the research area and further researches are required to be conducted in this subject.

Is sekentei associated with attitudes toward use of care services?: Multilevel analysis in Japan

To examine the relationship between individual and regional levels of sekentei and attitudes toward care services in the general Japanese population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in January and February 2005 using a mailed-in self-administered questionnaire. Participants were 4735 community residents aged 20-75 years living in 23 regions in the city of Koka in Shiga Prefecture. Questions encompassed demographic data, attitudes toward the use of formal care services and the Sekentei Scale. The regional variable of sekentei was constructed by aggregating the individual sekentei scores within elementary school districts. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between individual and regional sekentei and attitudes toward care services. A total of 2264 questionnaires were analyzed. Approximately 16% of respondents were willing to use formal care services. Multilevel analysis showed that lower individual sekentei was associated with the willingness to use formal care services among both men and women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.93-0.99 in men; OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.92-1.00 in women). Among men, the negative association between regional sekentei and the willingness to use formal care services was marginally significant (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.48-1.01) as was the interaction between individual and regional sekentei levels. These results indicate the importance of assessing not only the individual sekentei level but also the sekentei level in different regions to develop strategies for the allocation of care resources.

Trends in the Prevalence of Autism on the Basis of Special Education Data

The goal was to determine whether the increasing prevalence of autism, on the basis of educational data, in Wisconsin between 2002 and 2008 was uniform in all school districts or was greatest in districts with lower baseline (2002) prevalence. Special education counts were obtained for all Wisconsin elementary school districts from 2002 through 2008. The annual prevalence of children being served under the autism category was calculated for each district, districts were grouped into 8 categories (octiles) according to their baseline prevalence, and prevalence trends were plotted according to octile. The overall prevalence of use of the autism category in Wisconsin elementary schools increased from 4.9 to 9.0 cases per 1000 children between 2002 and 2008. The magnitude of this increase was not uniform across districts and was inversely associated with baseline prevalence. Prevalence in the lowest octile increased from 0.5 cases per 1000 students in 2002 to 7.0 cases per 1000 students in 2008 (P < .0001), whereas no significant trend was seen for the octile with the highest baseline prevalence (range: 11.2-12.3 cases per 1000 students; P = .11). The highest-octile/lowest-octile prevalence ratio decreased from 24.6 (95% confidence interval: 16.2-37.3) in 2002 to 1.8 (95% confidence interval: 1.6-2.1) in 2008. The prevalence of use of the autism special education category in Wisconsin seems to be leveling off in the school districts with the highest prevalence rates, at ∼12 cases per 1000 students, whereas the gap in prevalence between districts overall has narrowed.

Relationship Between Educational Resources and School Achievement: A Mixed Method Intra-District Analysis

This study examines the relationship between educational resources (fiscal, personnel and facilities) and school achievement within a large urban/suburban elementary school district. A sequential mixed methods approach reveals inequitable resource allocation trends and patterns between schools within a school district by producing different student outcomes. The educational resources positively correlated to higher school achievement are: higher teacher salaries, newer schools, more multi-purpose space per pupil and less portable classrooms. Without question, White students receive more of these resources than Latino students, low-income students and English Language learners. This study also conducts a multiple comparative case study analysis comparing between Title I and non-Title I schools, within Title I schools and within non-Title I schools. The study contains policy and practice implications to improve opportunity and school achievement in urban/suburban school districts.

Air pollution effects on peak expiratory flow rate in children.

Airway mucus hypersecretion Health effects caused by air pollutants may range from subtle biochemical or physiological signs, such as mildly reduced lung function, to difficult breathing, wheezing, coughing and exacerbation of existing respiratory conditions such as asthma. The aim of this study was measuring the adverse health effects of air pollution on lung function of primary school students. The lung function of students was measured daily for seven weeks in two elementary schools in District 12 of Tehran, after obtaining permission from the two principals and signed parents' consent forms. Twenty four hourly air pollution levels were used as potential predictors of lung function. The principal analysis conducted was a logistic regression on a subset of the data using a case-crossover design. The outcomes data consisted of the results of lung function tests for 356 female and 206 male students over the six-week period. Using the difference between mean (87) and maximum (125) concentration of moving average of NO in this period to judge the size of the effect, such an increase in NO is predicted to lead to an increase in the probability of poor lung function (OR=20) based on population-based predicted value. This study has shown strong and consistent associations between children's poor lung function and outdoor air pollutants in District 12 of Tehran for some pollutants. The strong association found in this study was an increase in seven-day moving average of NO using both definitions.

Teacher Learning and Instructional Change: How Formal and On-the-Job Learning Opportunities Predict Change in Elementary School Teachers' Practice

Abstract Recent education reform has emphasized the importance of teacher learning in improving classroom instruction and raising student achievement. This article focuses on teachers' learning opportunities, including formal professional development and on-the-job learning that occurs through interactions with colleagues. Using data from 30 elementary schools in a mid-sized urban school district, the authors concurrently explore the relationships between teachers' formal professional development and on-the-job learning opportunities and instructional change. Results suggest that formal professional development and on-the-job opportunities to learn are both significantly associated with changes in teachers' instructional practice in mathematics and English language arts.

ANALYSIS OF CHILDREN'S HOME RANGE AFTER SCHOOL BY USING ORBITS OF THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

The authors investigated 457 children's orbits after school in four specific school districts by using the Global Positioning System (GPS). The purpose of this paper is to clarify the children's home range in relation to their school districts' characteristics by analyzing the spacio-temporal distribution of their staying points. In the result, the children living in the urban district tends to travel on foot or by bicycle within the range from 250 to 1,000 meters from their home, at the same time the children living in the suburban districts tends to travel within the range from 50 to 250 meters and also further than 1,000 meters. There was a correlation between elementary schooler's home range and school districts' features.

地域情報化とソーシャル・キャピタル

The impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on social capital have attracted much scholarly attentions for years; meanwhile, only a small number of research adopting regional communities as analyzing units have appeared in the literature. In the present article, the entire Kobe-city, one of the major cities in Japan, was exhaustively and mutually exclusively divided into 170 elementary school districts, and their regional properties were estimated by using the results of Japanese census, population statistics, and large-scale citizen-surveys conducted by the municipal government since 2005. These properties were then analyzed to examine the impact of the regional Internet usage on social capital. Regional internet usage rates did not have a statistically significant relationship with averaged sizes of residents' neighborhood networks, but they were negatively related to averaged scores of regional community engagement. On the basis of the analyses, implications of the relationships between Internet usage and regional social capital were discussed.

Teacher Tradeoffs: Disentangling Teachers’ Preferences for Working Conditions and Student Demographics

One of the greatest differences in resources across schools in California comes from an inequitable distribution of teachers. This study identifies reasons for this sorting of teachers by surveying 531 teachers in a California elementary school district. The surveys ask the teachers to make choices between various workplace characteristics. With this information, the study disentangles student demographics from other characteristics of teaching jobs that are amenable to policy influences. It finds that teachers identify working conditions—particularly, school facilities, administrative support, and class sizes—and salaries as significantly more important than student characteristics when selecting a school in which to work.

Children’s blood lead and standardized test performance response as indicators of neurotoxicity in metropolitan New Orleans elementary schools

This study analyzes pre-Katrina variation in aggregate student performance and children’s blood lead (BPb) in 117 elementary school districts in metropolitan New Orleans. Fourth grade student achievement on Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) tests were analyzed as a function of BPb for children 1–6 years old within school districts, controlling for student–teacher ratios, percent of students eligible for a free or discounted lunch, and school racial demography. Measures of performance across subject areas (English Language Arts, Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies) include school Achievement Test Scores (ATS) and indices of agreement and variation in student achievement. ATS are measured on a 5-point scale, corresponding to achievement categories of advanced = 5 to unsatisfactory = 1. Regression results show that median BPb ( μ g/dL) and percent of children with BPb ≥ 10 μ g/dL are significantly associated with reductions in test scores across all subjects and depress variation in student performance across achievement categories. These data suggest that assisting children with improved school performance requires alleviation of pre-school Pb exposure and its associated neurotoxic damage. Cost–benefit calculations suggest that it is more cost effective to pay for onetime primary prevention instead of paying continuous expenses focused on reversing neurotoxic damage.

On Equity: The Illinois Dilemma Revisited: A Response to a Response

Purpose Aristotle writes that ...the source of battles and complaints is either that people who are equal have unequal shares, or that people who are not equal have equal shares, distributed to them.(FN1) Similarly stated, the issue is that equals have and are awarded unequal shares, or unequals equal shares.(FN2) This again comes to the fore in a Response(FN3) to our research on Illinois in which we analyze the equity, adequacy, and legal issues related to school finance. The Responders' quarrel with that portion of our research that addresses equity and create a de novo analysis, by treating unequals equally--an invalid endeavor fraught with difficulties to which we feel called upon to respond.(FN4) However, they accept what we consider the major contribution of the equity portion of our work--dissemination of a method to provide analysis for all districts in Illinois, including elementary, high school, and unit school districts. Previously, research resulted in three separate analyses, thus, begging the question of whether or not the finance system as a whole was equitable. The answer to that question, whether using the Responders' or our analysis, is an unequivocal no.

Participatory Prevention Research Model Promotes Environmental Change for Healthier Schools

Barriers exist to healthy eating and physical activity for children in the school environment. Modifiable school environmental factors have led to the development of the Nutrition Friendly Schools and Communities (NFSC) model to prevent the development of overweight in school children and adolescents. The design of the NFSC environmental intervention is to actively engage the school community to prevent overweight in school-aged children. This article presents data measuring the environmental changes achieved by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools participating in a 3-year participatory research pilot study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An objective of the pilot study is to determine whether any or all of the 15 steps developed for the NFSC model could be implemented. Further, researchers want to know if any of the study schools could implement the NFSC model as a whole during the allotted time of the pilot study.

Norovirus Outbreak in an Elementary School—District of Columbia, February 2007

On February 8, 2007, the District of Columbia Department of Health (DCDOH) was notified of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in an elementary school (prekindergarten through sixth grade). The school nurse reported that 27 students and two staff members had become ill during February 4--8 with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; because symptoms lasted <48 hours, a viral etiology was suspected. DCDOH recommended two preinvestigation interventions, which were implemented the same evening (February 8): 1) more thorough handwashing and 2) bleach cleaning of all shared environmental surfaces with a diluted (1:50 concentration) household bleach solution. This report summarizes the subsequent investigation of the outbreak, which suggested that noncleaned computer equipment (i.e., keyboards and mice) and person-to-person contact resulted in illness. To decrease disease transmission during gastroenteritis outbreaks, public health officials should emphasize good handwashing practices, exclusion of ill persons, and thorough environmental disinfection, including fomites that are shared but not commonly cleaned.