Review of Relevant Research

I've done quite a bit of reading regarding my inquiry, and I want to share some of the sources and findings here. A common theme across these articles is the importance of making students feel that you care about them as individuals, and the relationship between that caring atmosphere and improved student achievement. Besides for the convergence on caring and respect, a trend that carries across all of the sources is the way class environment relates to achievement. In the first text it's language anxiety, linked to classroom environment, linked to achievement. In the second it's individualized instruction, linked to classroom environment, linked to achievement, etc. This is helpful to me because it shows me thatthe connection between these things that I noticed in my classes isn't only in my classes- it fits with others' findings as well.


Most of what I found in these articles matches well with the data I have collected about grades and discipline referrals, and also to the student interviews. For example, the articles repeatedly mentioned the importance of things like collaboration, group work, games, and competition, all things my students mentioned in their descriptions of classes that, in their opinions, had good class environments. The only piece that didn’t fit was that most students don’t believe there’s a connection between environment and achievement, and not only my data, but the data used in these articles shows that it does.

This data has provided me with several specific strategies to employ in order to promote a positive class environment. This will inform my further inquiry, as I will look for more information about how to implement those things, and make a plan of action for changes I’ll make in the next school year. These sources have helped me process some of my thoughts about my inquiry, especially the pieces about racial bias in the classroom, which is another area that I already chose to research further, but may continue to study.

The following are the sources I’ve found helpful for this inquiry:

Awan, R.N., Azher, M., Anwar, M. N., & Naz, A. (November 2010). An investigation of foreign language classroom anxiety and its relationship with students’ achievement. Journal of College Teaching & Learning, 7 (11), 33-40. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 15 July 2012.

Carlson, D. L. (Sep. 2008). Playing the classroom-as-game: Building a community of learners at the start of a new year. English Journal 98 (1), 57-60. Proquest Research Library. Web. 23 July 2012.

Downey, D. B & Pribesh, S. (Oct. 2004). When race matters: Teachers’ evaluations of students’ classroom behavior. Sociology of Education 77 (4), 267-282. Proquest Research Library. Web. 23 July 2012.

Ferguson, R.F. (July 2003). Teachers’ perceptions and expectations and the black-white test score

            gap. Urban Education 38 (4) 460-507.

Haley, L.D. & Caparo, R.M. (2001). Strategies for teaching in heterogeneous environments while building a classroom community. Education 122 (1), 80-86. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 15 July 2012.

Johnson, D. & Johnson, R. (1986). Learning together and learning alone: Cooperative, competitive, and individualistic learning. Boston, MA:Allyn & Bacon.

Lada, J. (2006). Ready for change: Creating a positive and disciplined environment within the school. Rowan University, 2006. New Jersey: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT); ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I. Web. 24 July 2012.