Motivating High School Students in South Texas to Achieve in Mathematics

1. Motivating High School Students in South Texas to Achieve in Mathematics Ms. Cristina Pintor EDCI 6300.61 Dr. A. Herrera Spring 2012

2. Problem Statement The problem is that students in South Texas high schools lack motivation for learning math and are not able to attain the level required by the Texas Essential Knowledge and skills (TEKS) measured by the state proficiency assessment.

3. Purpose The purpose of this research is to discover the best strategies to motivate high school students in learning the math curriculum so they can achieve the desired level and be successful in their subsequent math classes.

4. Need South Texas needs outstanding professors who are willing to motivate students by using effective strategies, not only to pass the state assessments, but to be prosperous in their careers.

5. Types of Research Studies included in this synthesis are non-experimental and experimental. It involves case studies, surveys, casual-comparative research, descriptive and, correlational studies.

6. Reviewing the Literature Bomia et al. (1997) conducted a quantitative research paper that focuses on finding how teaching methods impact on intrinsic motivation in secondary education students. According to the study, “teaching strategies can influence intrinsic motivation”.

7. Reviewing the Literature According to the study conducted by Md. Yunus & Wan Ali (2009), teachers need to reserve part of the class time to conduct activities that would develop enthusiasm in mathematics, thus enhancing students’ motivation in learning mathematics.

8. Reviewing the Literature Qualitative study by Lumsden (1996), reports the following effective classroom practices to keep students motivated: • Showing enthusiasm at their students’ learning process • Setting high learning goals • Making students responsible • Emphasizing the positive • Use of cooperative learning and discipline

9. Reviewing the Literature • Planning of activity-based and student-centered lessons • Provide encouragement • Illustration of concepts • Use of alternative assessment • Create a risk-taking atmosphere • Valuing attitude and positive feedback • Showing real-life applications and lifelong learning.

10. Results The findings from this literature review show a correlation between motivation and achievement. Effective teaching strategies are good resources to motivate students in the learning of math.

11. Conclusion Teachers cannot control what happens at the students’ home or what happens after their class, those are the reasons why professors need to be passionate about their subject in such a way that could make a difference in the students’ life and engage them in the learning process.

12. Sources • Bomia, L., Beluzo, L., Demeester, D., Eleander, K., Johnson, M., & Sheldon, B. (1997). The impact of teaching practices on intrinsic motivation. ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. • Md.Yunus, A.S., & Wan Ali, W. Z. (2009). Motivation in the learning of mathematics. European Journal of Social Sciences, 7(4). • Lumsden, L. (1996). Motivating today's students: the same old stuff just doesn't work. ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management, 1(2), 9. doi: ED422612 • Images courtesy of Google • Microsoft Powerpoint