ERIC Number: EJ1149980
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Aug
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0663
EISSN: N/A
Differential Effects of the Classroom on African American and Non-African American's Mathematics Achievement
Schenke, Katerina; Nguyen, Tutrang; Watts, Tyler W.; Sarama, Julie; Clements, Douglas H.
Journal of Educational Psychology, v109 n6 p794-811 Aug 2017
We examined whether African American students differentially responded to dimensions of the observed classroom-learning environment compared with non-African American students. Further, we examined whether these dimensions of the classroom mediated treatment effects of a preschool mathematics intervention targeted at students from low-income families. Three observed dimensions of the classroom (teacher expectations and developmental appropriateness; teacher confidence and enthusiasm; and support for mathematical discourse) were evaluated in a sample of 1,238 preschool students in 101 classrooms. Using multigroup multilevel mediation where African American students were compared with non-African American students, we found that teachers in the intervention condition had higher ratings on the observed dimensions of the classroom compared with teachers in the control condition. Further, ratings on teacher expectations and developmental appropriateness had larger associations with the achievement of African American students than for non-African Americans. Findings suggest that students within the same classroom may react differently to that learning environment and that classroom learning environments could be structured in ways that are beneficial for students who need the most support.
Descriptors: Mathematics Achievement, Racial Differences, African American Students, Classroom Environment, Preschool Education, Preschool Children, Mathematics Instruction, Low Income Groups, Comparative Analysis, Teacher Expectations of Students, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Self Efficacy, Intervention, Control Groups, Experimental Groups, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Numeracy, Spatial Ability, Geometric Concepts, Faculty Development, Hispanic American Students, Observation, White Students, Statistical Analysis
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Preschool Education; Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED); Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York; Massachusetts
IES Funded: Yes