Predicting Academic Achievement from Classroom Behaviors

This study examined the influence of behaviors exhibited in the classroom on reading and math achievement in the first, third and eighth grades; and the influence of teacher perceptions on reading and math achievement of African-Americans versus White students and male versus female students. Lastly, the study examined teacher ratings of student behavior and standardized measures of intelligence in predicting reading and math achievement. The Classroom Behavior Inventory (CBI) was used to measure student classroom behavior. The CBI contains 10 subscales of classroom behaviors: extroversion, introversion, independence, dependence, creativity/curiosity, task orientation, verbal intelligence, hostility, distractibility, and considerateness. Reading and math achievement were measured using reading and math subtests from the Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery. The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) in first grade, and the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) in third grade, were used as standardized measures of intelligence.Results revealed that overall, teacher ratings, as measured by the CBI, were better predictors of reading and math achievement than standardized measures of intelligence in first, third and eighth grades. Students who were rated higher on positive behaviors had overall higher achievement scores than students who were rated higher on negative behaviors. Minor differences in teacher ratings of classroom behavior based on race and gender were observed. Teachers rated White students higher on consideration and independence, while African American students were rated as more dependent and hostile. Males were rated as more hostile, introverted and distracted, while females were rated higher on consideration.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Department dc:contributor.department

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Flynt, Cynthia J.

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Singh, Kusum
• Bodenhorn, Nancy E.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Wood, Frank
• Day-Vines, Norma L.

• Academic Achievement
• Classroom Behavior
• Teacher Perceptions
• African-American

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-09162008-100711

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/28996