9^TH GRADE SCIENCE (ENVIRONMENT-“POPULATION”)

CREATED BY JOYCE HENDERSON

For the TIPS Program

http://www.Maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html

ATTENDANCE LINKED TO MOBILITY AND LOW GRADES

INTRODUCTION

Researches found that students who moved often had lower attendance rates and that attendance rates and that attendance levels were important to achievement. Average reading scores for students who moved three or more times were half those of students who did not move. Students who, on the average, were absent 20 percent of the time scored 20 points lower than students who attended school nearly every day. Similar patterns have been found in both local and national research.

Is there any evidence that attendance is linked to mobility and low scores?

How do families cope with changes?

How can a community policy makers help improve families stability?

Does moving affect student’s performance?

THE TASK

Attendance is important!! Attendance has proved to be a strong predictor of performance for students in a study, done by the Kids Mobility Project. This research was done using both local and national students.

To find the answer, to why attendance is linked to mobility and low scores, you will do research on student mobility and attendance. Look at others factors at the same time, like race, income level, family structure, and out- of state birth. You will also do an analyzed on school data related to student achievement and mobility.

You will be doing the following:

1. Research how attendance is linked to mobility and low scores.

2. Look at other factors impact on achievement.

3. Write a 3-5 page condensed report of your findings.

4. Your findings to the class by an oral report.

5. Use the Public Policy Analyst worksheets to conduct your research.

THE PROCESS

1. You will use the Public Policy steps for your worksheets:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/welcome.html

2. You will be assigned to a group of 3-4 students.

3. Each group will elect a group leader, reporter and secretary. Note: these titles will be rotated amongst the group leaders.

4. Every group will investigate five of the websites listed below and an additional two that are not listed.

RESOURCES:

http://www.leconsulting.com/arthurhu/index/success.htm

http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed338745.html

http://www.popexpo.net/eMain

http://www.azstarnet.com/public/comm_editorials/W._Joss_Sanderson_830492.html

http://sun.kent.k12.wa.us/KSD/KL/attendance/attendance.html

http://www.ips.k12.in.us/s715/attend.html

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/rpl_esys/equity.htm

http://www.elko.k12.nv.us/carlin/Attendance.htm

http://www.scre.ac.uk/rie/nl66/nl66low.html

http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0023.html

http://www.cyfernet.org/research/resilient.html

http://www.welcometonycity.com/toc.html

http://www.caper.com.au/adultsurvresult.htm

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/familydevelopment/DE7269.html

http://extension.unl.edu/familiesfirst/coping.htm

http://www.apa.org/releases/resilien.html

http://www.nfhs.org/case.htm#Attend

Evaluation

Rubric

	4	3	2	1
UNDERSTANDING THE TASK	COMPLETES THE ENTIRE TASK.	COMPLETES MOST OF THE TASK	COMPLETES PART OF THE TASK	COMPLETES LITTLE OF THE TASK.
DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZATION	VERY WELL DEVELOPED AND ORGANIZED	MOSTLY DEVELOPED AND ORGANIZED	PARTLY DEVELOPED AND ORGANIZED	HARDLY DEVELOPED AND ORGANIZED
VOCABULARY	EXCELLENT VOCABULARY USE (APPROPRIATE ANDS CORRECT)	GOOD VOCABULARY USE.	WEAK VOCABULARY USE.	POOR VOCABULARY USE.
GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATIOIN	EXCELLENT GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION WITH FEW ERRORS	GOOD GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION WITH SOME ERRORS	WEAK GRAMMAR ANDS PUNCTUATION WITH MANY ERRORS	POOR GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION WITH MULTIPLE ERRORS.

CONCLUSION:

Researchers found that family instability includes a wide range of conditions including poverty, chemical abuse, physical abuse, and divorce. These conditions lead to frequent moves as families adjust to change or cannot afford to pay for adequate housing; in addition, inadequate housing options often force families into a cycle of moving to escape substandard living conditions and problems with landlords. Researches also found that poor school attendance is a strong indicator of level of achievement is linked to the high mobility caused by family instability and lack of adequate housing. Improved stability for families, including affordable housing is critical. So what can be done?

You have acted as public policy advocates and are now informed of an important problem, facing some students, how would you answer this question.

Is there any evidence that attendance is linked to mobility and low scores?

STANDARDS

Science

S4b Demonstrates an understanding of the designed world.

S5a Frames questions to distinguish cause ands effect, and identifies or controls variable.

S5d Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, consider, and critiques alternative explanations; and distinguishes between Fact and opinion.

S5e Identifies problems; proposes and implement solutions; evaluation the accuracy, design, and outcome of investigations.

S5f Work individually and in teams to collect and share information and ideas.

S7b Argues from evidence.

S7c Critiques published material

English

E1c Read and comprehend informational material.

E2a Produce a report of information.

E3b Participate in group meetings.

E3c Prepare and deliver individual presentation (only this will be a group presentation).