School Motivation and Learning Strategies Inventory
Introduction
The School Motivation and Learning Strategies Inventory (SMALSI) is a self-report tool designed to determine student performance across a comprehensive set of behaviors representing learning strategies, academic motivation, and test-taking. This inventory is unique in that it is designed especially for use with school-aged youth. There are two forms: a Child Form for students aged 8-12 years, and a Teen Form for students aged 13-18 years. Both forms consist of over 100 items written at a third grade reading level, which should take from 20-30 minutes to complete. The SMALSI can be administered individually or to a group; the form also can be read to students who have difficulty reading. The SMALSI is intended for use in both general and special education for the purposes of: (a) screening to facilitate identification of topics for group instruction; (b) prereferral intervention, which may ameliorate learning difficulties and avert the need for special education; (c) special education assessment, which is linked directly to intervention in areas that may exacerbate academic difficulties; and (d) research related to understanding the nature of these skills and to the development of effective interventions for learning strategies, test taking, and academic motivation.
Overview
Average T-scores were reported for select groups to determine whether clinically significant differences might emerge that would warrant
Creating lessons that students actually want to participate in is always considered at planning. While there are standards that must be taught and best practices for teaching these standards, engagement must also be addressed to complete the learning package. Silver and Perini believe that “if we do not design lessons and units that will strengthen students commitment to learn, then we cannot expect them to take an active or in-depth approach to learning” (2010). With this in mind, differentiating lessons according to students’ interest helps ensure that students are motivated and are able to gain deeper level understanding. When students are interested in what they are learning, they are able to bring passion to their work.
Learning disabilities (LD), or in some clinical cases called specific learning disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder which the individual is experiencing difficulties in learning and using academic skills (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Person with LD usually shows at least one difficulty in literacy (i.e.: inaccurate or slow and takes effort to read, difficult to understand the meaning of what he/she reads, difficult to spell words, or difficult with written expression) or in numerical reasoning (i.e.: number sense, calculation, or mathematical reasoning). Dyslexia and dyscalculia are the examples of specific cases in LD. The prevalence of school-age children with LD is 5%-15% of the population across different language and cultures with males have higher risk than females (2:1 to 3:1); while the prevalence of adults with LD is approximately 4%. The prognostic factors of LD might because of genetic factors or environmental factors (i.e.: premature, low birth weight, or nicotine exposure during prenatal).
When working with students with learning disabilities, I often rely on initial/diagnostic assessment to ensure I can provide the correct support for that student. Using formative assessment can also motivate my students, ‘Most student’s with learning disabilities respond favorably too seeing their academic progress charted, and this can become…a very motivational tool.’ Bender, 2002,
The United States of America is known for being a country filled with people of many different ethnic backgrounds. Likewise, the student population in schools is just as diverse as it continues to grow. Lynch (2015) notes that schools are expected to teach their students “how to synthesize cultural differences into their knowledge base” as this will help “facilitate students’ personal and professional success in a diverse world” (para. 8). Educators must be able to provide for the diverse needs of students and are expected to equip students with skills that can lead to healthy development as it can affect higher levels of student achievement and students have more opportunities of success in their future. Providing students with tools and skills requires an awareness and acceptance of their ethnic identity. Once students have developed self-acceptance about their ethnic identity, they can begin to feel empowered and motivated to do well. Through cultural empowerment, students of color can develop intrinsic motivation and achieve academic success.
The majority of ASCC’s course offerings are Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. However, the college offers only a Bachelor in Education Degree, BED program, in 2006, under the Teacher Education Department. The BED program provides theoretical and practical experiences for pre-service and in-service elementary education majors. One of the major challenges of the program since its inception is the low enrollment from the general student population. A slow but significant climb in enrollment was noticeable when a new platform was required for the program in 2008 – the introduction of MOODLE in addition to the face-to-face format of the teacher education program.
Research clearly indicates that teachers are the single most important factor affecting student achievement (Haycock, 1998; Marzano, 2003). Further, that along with effective and individualized academic instruction, a teacher’s classroom management skills must foster positive, supportive, and respectful environments to best facilitate responsible student behavior and achievement. (Jones & Jones, 2007). These skills must also include identifying and understanding each child’s personal behaviors and the attendant reasons or functions of such behavior. According to the American Institutes Research Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice, there is “growing recognition that the success
T-scores are reported and have a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. T-scores of 70 or above on the clinical scales are in the Clinically Significant range and
Every accomplishment, small or large, comes from the motivation one has to succeed in their goals. Motivation is not always present in the classroom, for example in Mrs. Garcia’s classroom at Milby High School. For me, knowing Spanish was a given since most of my family speaks it. Although this is the case, I never used Spanish with them because they can understand English. For this reason, I only knew the basics and couldn’t hold a conversation with it. My parents always wanted me to learn more Spanish and perfect it in order to have a better future. I never saw the point of it until I was placed Mrs. Garcia’s Spanish level 1 class. The first days of class I had zero motivation into learning Spanish but as the weeks passed
The MMPI-2-RF normal sample is the same used to standardize the MMPI-2 minus the emphasis on gender; no new norms were collected for the MMPI-2-RF. The nongendered MMPI-2-RF normative sample is made up of 1,138 men and 1,138 women from the normative sample of the MMPI-2. Analysis of T scores based on gendered versus nongendered norms showed no advantages or disadvantages for either gender. The mean T scores for both men and women were at or about 50, with standard deviation of 10; therefore, there was no significant clinical difference between genders. The normative sample was composed of individuals ranging from age 18 to 80 all from different regions and communities in the United States. The representation of
A special education student’s transition from school to adulthood is important. Several things need to be addressed and obstacles need to be overcome in order to do so. Specific student evaluations to assess emotional social and academic levels are necessary are beginning steps in this transition.
In the spring of 2015, I won the Underclassmen French Department award. This award was presented to a student who had taken French 1, French 2 and was currently enrolled in French 3. Kathleen Vogt, French Department Chair claimed my qualifications for this award were highest cumulative GPA in French 1 through three, outstanding effort in the classroom, as well as active participation in French Club. Winning this award took three years of hard work and dedication. I had to learn an entire new language and be the best at it for three years straight. Intrinsic motivation is what kept me going when it got challenging. I studied for hours to work on my pronunciation, spelling, and grammar. At the end of my second year in French, I almost stopped
In addition to reading impairments and modifications, motivational factors played a key role in the way teachers educate their students. In Hadre and Hennessey’s (2013) study, educators were not consistent and aware of how to sustain motivation for their students. Educators did in fact incorporate short term techniques to get students attention, however, long term strategies may be more beneficial to the student’s success in academics (Hadre & Hennessey, 2013). Providing adequate strategies for educators to utilize with their students, specifically students with ADHD may in fact assist in closing the gap in reading deficiencies. Students with reading disabilities and ADHD experience a decline in motivation over a period of time (Beike and Zentall, 2012). Providing students with adequate techniques to guarantee motivation is displayed,
Currently I am attending Houston Community College in Houston, Texas. I lost both of my parents at the age of one, and since then sacrifices was something my family and I had become accustom to. As the youngest some assume that everything is given to me. I had to teach myself how to become my own idea man. Rise by my God fearing grandmother was very challenging at times. With the help of God, family, friends, teachers and community also taught me the true meaning of hard work, responsibility, work ethic, teamwork, and dedication. I was a member/ student currently mentor with the Positive Black Male Association of Houston. Our mission is to empower youth, build strong bodies, minds and spirits in our homes. By impacting achievement and promoting
Accurately predicting academic persistence for incoming and returning college students is constant problem for all involved. Multiple predictors currently exist to help determine the academic motivation of students. Traditional predictors cover the cognitive aspects of students. The most common predictors are standardized tests and high school GPA. Noncognitive predictors are difficult to accurately measure but still contribute to a student’s persistence. Cultural predictors such as economic status, moral support and ethnic differences also play a role in a student’s academic motivation. The purpose of this paper was to explain the effectiveness of these predictors.